Rightful or rightless: Forest villagers in Saranda struggle to shed ‘illegal’ tag

Jharkhand forest department refuses to recognise rights of occupants of forest villages like Marchi gada in West Singhbhum

Tasar rearing may bail out 600 mining-affected families in Keonjhar

The Rs 23.75-crore project in the state’s Keonjhar district will be implemented using DMF and MGNREGS funds

Green fund rules notified: Some hits, major misses

The rules of the Compensatory (Afforestation) Fund Act 2016 are better than the draft but not impactful

Forest conservation: indigenous peoples invest less than other agencies, but achieve equal outcome

According to a recent study, indigenous people and local communities are able to conserve forests by investing only 16–23 per cent of the …

A decade-old plan to curb carbon emissions through forest conservation in Africa is yet to pay off

A UN-backed mechanism to curb carbon sequestration and ensure biodiversity conservation, REDD+, is compromising community rights. Is there a …

Tendu finds no takers; no contractor turns up for auction in Maharashtra  

It seems contractors are waiting until mid-April, when leaves plucking will start and collectors will be forced to sell leaves at throwaway prices

Critical Wildlife Habitat guidelines issued; NTCA order superseded  

Forest rights activists criticise Ministry of Tribal Affairs' decision to accept the guidelines without making any revisions or inviting comments …

Forest governance 2.0

Forest dwelling communities have created a new economy courtesy a decade of the Forest Rights Act. Will the bureaucracy support the empowered …

Can technology support forest rights process?

As false claims under the Forest Rights Act raise alarms, villages in Gujarat show how communities can use technology to address them

Kalahandi forest dwellers allege FRA violation by state forest department

Activists say that in 3 villages of Kalahand district, the Odisha forest department is imposing on the rights of forest …

Centre’s new guidelines on compensatory afforestation ignore communities’ concerns

Guidelines have tried to address the challenge of land scarcity for compensatory afforestation but have fallen short of clarifying minimum …

Of inclusive conservation and exclusionary orders

Forest-dwelling communities have the capabilities and desire to contribute to wildlife conservation, so why are we dismissing them?

Odisha villagers, forest department at loggerheads over rights to sell kendu leaves

Can Odisha government deregulate kendu leaf trade with support mechanisms to facilitate private trade beneficial to communities?

Community forest rights in critical tiger habitats under threat

NTCA's order to deny forest rights in tiger habitat has become a contentious issue

Missing the woods for wood

Is it worthwhile to clear forests to annually earn Rs 4,500 per hectare?

First time ever, communities' compensation demand for forest diversion finds approval

The communities in Maharashtra affected by diversion of forests due to a transmission project may get the compensation they have demanded

Balancing rights and responsibilities: community-based forest governance in Maharashtra

A small village in eastern Maharashtra sets an example of managing community forest resource in a sustainable way

Planting problems

Forest development corporations fell rich forests to raise plantations, undermining people's rights and biodiversity. It's time India introduced …

International community resents the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill

International organisations say there are absolutely no provisions in the Bill to safeguard the rights of forest dwelling communities

A village in Maharashtra stands up for its rights

Residents of Lavari have blocked the construction of a transmission line to demand compensation for livelihood loss

Chhattisgarh communities assert forest rights

The Chhattisgarh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam was carrying out “thinning” inside the forests adjacent to the village, Sanauli, when a …

Odisha issues guidelines for FRA convergence plan implementation

The guidelines aim to increase benefits through community involvement

21 villages inside Simlipal Tiger Reserve granted community forest rights

Exercising the rights however, might prove to be a challenge

Chhattisgarh cancels forest rights of tribals in Surguja

Activists claim the move was in response to the tribals’ protest against mining in their forest

Tribal affairs ministry gives in to pressure, ‘okays’ Village Forest Rules

These rules, if implemented, will lead to dilution of the Forest Rights Act