Controversial Bill to amend Forest Conservation Act passed by Lok Sabha

Union environment minister refutes all concerns, calls amendments ‘progressive’

New awakenings in the trans-Himalaya

With threats to common properties multiplying and people’s traditional access to living systems being denied, the Forest Rights Act is …

Name change of Forest Conservation Act imperative, as it is treated as ‘Forest Clearance Act’: DG forests

Joint Parliamentary Committee accepted all proposed amendments to Act, including name change, on July 20

Reclassifying forests, exemptions from clearances: What changes does Bill to amend Forest Conservation Act propose

Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is among the Bills set to be tabled in Parliament’s ongoing monsoon session

Forests up for grabs?

The amended Forest Conservation Act opens up large swathes of forestland for different non-forest activities

Haryana police encroaches upon forest land to build training centre, residential complex: RTI

At both the sites, the cops have not procured any permissions and cut thousands of fully grown trees

Gram sabha to be consulted on Vedanta's mining project, says SC

Apex court gives Sterlite, OMCL three months to submit project proposal to affected gram sabhas

Constitutional violations in amended Forest (Conservation and Augmentation) Act, say experts

‘Centre absolving itself from its constitutional responsibility of protecting the environment by enacting the law’

CAG slams 2 Chhattisgarh DFOs for spending without permission

Report says forest department violated Forest Conservation Act norms

Forest Act amendments will dilute rights of indigenous groups in Himalayas: Activists

The bill is expected to be tabled for clearance during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament

Proposed changes to Forest Conservation Act a larceny of village resources

Proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, are a blunder arising out of ignorance towards constitutionally and legally-bound …

Are monetary penalties effective enough to save forests?

The Union Environment Ministry has issued guidelines to deal with forest clearance violations by revising penalties. Will these guidelines …

6,944,608 trees cut across India in last three years: MoEF&CC

6.2 crore trees were planted in their place as compensatory afforestation

New FCA rules not in compliance with FRA, endanger rights of tribals and forest dwellers

The new Forest Conservation Rules, 2022 were notified June 28 and will be put before both Houses of Parliament in the current session for approval

Top committee for diverting forests recommends penalties for violating projects

The Forest Advisory Committee has said the environment ministry imposes “inconsistent and arbitrary" penalties

Kerala is marking only protected forests as ecologically sensitive area

Encroachments in the Western Ghats are being left out of the category

MoEFCC refuses to put new forest conservation rules on hold, says do not dilute forest rights act

New rules do away with Gram Sabha consent, National Commission on Scheduled Tribes had flagged last year in letter to ministry

Rajya Sabha paves way for Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill to become an Act

The bill was passed unanimously by the house after much discussion and withdrawal of amendments by opposition members on assurance by the …

What will Supreme Court judgement on Aravalli mean for forest conservation?

Changes to conservation rules may be fast tracked, say activists

Forest act amendments will help India achieve Net Zero emissions targets: MoEFCC in joint committee report

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has sought to insert a preamble 

2022 too short, too far: Environment news you should not miss

Down To Earth recaps the primary environment, health and developmental news from 2022

Draft amendment to Forest Conservation Act may dilute protection to forests

The proposed draft, accessed by Down to Earth, may grant exemptions to railways, roads, tree plantations, oil exploration, wildlife …

Coal mining to be allowed in non-forest areas after Stage I of forest clearance: Government

Environment ministry takes decision after coal ministry complains of delay in projects due to mining ban in these areas

CAG flags community centre under FRA actually MP govt tourist lodge in Pench

CAG slams action as being tantamount to misuse of powers by forest department and against spirit of Forest (Conservation) Act

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (July 30, 2020)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal