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 …

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

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 …

CAG slams 2 Chhattisgarh DFOs for spending without permission

Report says forest department violated Forest Conservation Act norms

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 …

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

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

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

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

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

Green tribunal stays wall construction in Rajaji National Park

NGO says construction the wall would obstruct elephant movement

Green tribunal halts Mapithel dam in Manipur

MoEF asked to ascertain if project violates Forest Rights Act. State may now need people's consent to go ahead with the project

Proposed forest diversion rules may bind states to settle forest rights of tribal people first

Draft amendments to the Forest Conservation Act rules, however, do not make gram sabha consent mandatory for all projects

Green tribunal asks Odisha to pass order on tree-felling for POSCO

Says states must apply its mind and pass order in accordance with Forest Conservation Act

Environment ministry firm on 'no-go' zones

Says mining in no-go zone against Forest Conservation Act

Environment ministry failed to monitor forest diversion: CAG

Report of India’s chief auditor says compensatory afforestation not undertaken in many states; CAMPA funds misused or poorly utilised

MoEF notice to halt work on lion safari project in Etawah

Notice to Uttar Pradesh says project in reserved forestland for commercial purpose is illegal

Himalayas: the agenda for development and environment

We need to think about a pan-Himalayan development strategy which is based on the region's natural resources, culture and traditional knowledge

Nearly 213 ha in protected areas diverted between April and July

Standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife approved 21 projects for diversion, deferred 7 for later