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Under the Sal Tree-theatre of nature

Forests are nature’s powerhouse. Apart from providing food and wood, they also energise us in various other ways. Forests sometimes provide a place for recreation. This is true of Assam’s Goalpara district which is famous for organising “Under the Sal Tree” theatre festival. It is a unique concept where plays are organised inside the Sal forest and artistes work in perfect harmony with nature
News

Afforestation: money on the trees

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act could redefine forest governance. But will it protect the rights of forest dwellers?
 

Forest-risk goods

Export-oriented commercial agriculture is the single largest driver of tropical deforestation, argues a new book
 

Forest productivity - Lumber slumber

Forest Development Corporations are yet to keep pace with the rising demand for timber, though cultivable lands exist
 

Forests fire poets' imagination

Forests are vital not only for food and biodiversity, but our energy and creativity also find expression in them
 
From the archives

Treasures of Silent Valley through the lens

Down To Earth traveller Jemima Rohekar's stunning photos of the Silent Valley National Park opens up before us a diversity of life rarely experienced

The Chipko movement as it stands today

Forty-three years later, Down To Earth travelled to Chamoli and Tehri Garhwal and spoke to the participants of the Chipko movement about its relevance today

Sounds of silence: a forest that survived 'development'

A trip to the Silent Valley National Park is a valuable lesson in the history of environmental movements and biodiversity conservation

Embrace of an unforgettable conservation crusade lingers on

Impacts of the Chipko movement are still visible in Uttarakhand after four decades. The idea behind the movement originated in early 1970s from Mandal, a village in Chamoli district

Forestry should be tied with agriculture for socio-economic development

While agriculture can feed the world’s population, it is responsible for deforestation globally. The SOFO report shows how food security can be ensured by maintaining forest cover

Tale of world’s only man-made forest Mulai Kathoni

Mulai Kathoni or Mulai’s Forest was created by Jadav Payeng. Way back in 1979, Payeng started planting trees on this barren sandy land, starting with bamboos. For the last 30 years, he has been planting one sapling every day, and using indigenous methods to create the forest

How to plant trees for development

There is no economic value seen in forests, but there is value seen in the development project for which forestland is required. We need a value to be paid for forests; it needs to be shared with people who inhabit these lands; we need to grow trees in ways which bring money to the poor, says Sunita Narain

Sacred groves nurtured by Kodavas face threat

Forest protection is inherently embedded in the lives of the Kodava people. Kodira A Kushalapa, a Kodava himself, and a former regional chief conservator of forests, traces the ecological legacy of a community whose population is gradually declining

Forests

Follow ‘Forests’ on Down To Earth:

How accurate are government’s claims on forest rights in Odisha

A review by the Centre recently found Odisha to be the best performing state in forest rights implementation   

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Sounds of silence: a forest that resisted development

A trip to the Silent Valley National Park is a valuable lesson in the history of environmental movements and biodiversity conservation
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