States violate community forest rights as Centre delays implementation of CAF Act

States exploit the delay in the drafting of rules for the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act to assert rights over land claimed by communities …

Can mahua seeds provide Adivasis a reliable livelihood? 

Mahua seed harvesting practices of the tribals are non-invasive & can promote conservation 

Inside ad hoc forests

Government failure, both at the Centre and the states, is hurting communities and forests alike

'Village forests have been pitted against community rights'

The proposed amendment of IFA is an attempt to keep power in the hands of the forest bureaucracy by playing up village forests against community …

'Sir… if we define forests, it could create many loopholes'

Union forest ministry’s reply to parliamentary committee’s query on absence of a clear definition of forests  

Critical Wildlife Habitat guidelines issued; NTCA order superseded  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 …

Long overdue change made in new draft of Forest Policy

The new draft National Forest Policy takes into account the paradigm shift in present realities due to climate change

Afforestation: money on the trees

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

Tribal ministry panels draft fresh guidelines for community forest, habitat rights

Gram Sabhas may get more power in managing community forest, habitat

The amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927 will create new markets & jobs for poor communities

After amending Section 2(7) of Indian Forest Act, 1927, bamboo is no longer a tree. This enables the livelihoods of forest communities as well as …

Project Lion could displace Maldharis within Gir to create ‘inviolate space’

The proposal seeks to relocate 2,500 families of the community from the Gir protected area within 10 years

Study urges government to grant community rights to local forest dwellers

In tribal-dominated areas of the country, forests have always been traditionally managed by local communities

In a first, Odisha studies potential forest land under FRA

New estimate offers ‘baseline for planning and effective implementation of forest rights Act recognition’ 

Changes to Forest Conservation Rules dilute forest rights, say tribal communities

Consent from forest dwellers not mandatory for changing land use under new amendments; Activists demand withdrawal

Why are Wayanad tribals, farmers wary of poll promises?

It seems that tribal leaders, farmers and environmentalists are not impressed with Rahul Gandhi contesting from their constituency

Community forest rights for Gondia's tribal villages

Improved claim formats; no unfair caveats

How can India overcome policy and institutional gaps in forest management

We need to recognise the Gram Sabha as empowered by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment 

Mendha Lekha gets record bamboo rate

Earns 2.5 times more than what the highest rate received by the forest department last year

‘Forests can’t survive without communities’

Nepal’s Forest Act of 1993, which allows communities to manage their forests, is admired and emulated by governments and movements across …

State V Dongria Kondhs

Kalahandi Gram Sabhas write to NCST, invoke atrocities act against Jharkhand DFO

DFO illegally seized consignment of kendu leaves being transported from Odisha to West Bengal, federation of Gram Sabhas alleges

Forest title claims of over 50% tribals, forest dwellers rejected: report

Where titles have been granted, average size of land holdings much smaller than what the Forest Rights Act provides for, says status report on …

Global Eco Watch: Ice Age woolly rhino unearthed in Siberia

Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology

Forests for people

Newly democratic Bhutan pushes community forestry to tackle rural poverty  

24 Chhattisgarh villages pledge to develop wildlife sanctuary on their own

Community leaders say they will increase forest cover and wildlife numbers by 150 per cent in five years in the proposed Udanti and Sita Nadi …