Forest: fade out

The Chinese government's solutions to save the remaining forests from the axe aren't effective

Roots of change: Seed (Udaipur, Rajasthan)

A true product of Bhoodan movement • Rights over grazing land led to self-rule • Fights panchayat dominance

People power

Movements to protest against the commercialisation of forests have gained momentum in Karnataka

Woman power

When the men of Dengajhari failed, women took up arms to protect their forests

Call of the wild

A unique festival epitomises efforts for conservation of Assam rainforests which have been lying in a state of neglect for decades

Chipping away

Time was, when the Saranda forest cover was so dense that even the sun's rays couldn't penetrate it. Ironically, denudation has driven the region …

System error

The death of India's cancer control programme and the rise of cancers

Classified ?

The data is rudimentary. The analysis is poor. And is kept secret

The cutting edge

Conservationists in Brazil come up with a model way to reduce the pressure on forests

Law of no returns

Kings of forests

The control of Naxalites over forests is total and overwhelming

Forest war

Naxalism started as a movement against land alienation. Today it has become a popular movement against natural resource alienation, …

Whither freedom?

Post independence, governments expanded squeezing village republics out of existence

THE FOUNTAINHEAD DONGRIPARA, DHAMTARI DISTRICT, CHATTISGARH

Spark came from non-recognition as a village • Integrated management of forest and water • Sees self-governance as a matter of …

THE SECOND INDEPENDENCE

Tiny forgotten villages teach India a firsthand lesson in governance. Down To Earth reporters and photographers fan out to six states to discover …

A memo to the government

To be a truly participatory republic, India must take tutorials from these tiny republics

In Birsa's Land: Horomocho (Hazaribagh, Jharkhand)

A coal mine to own and manage • Sustainability not profit as a principle • Revival of an ancient Santhal system of governance

Unshakable: Nimalapedu (Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)

Reminded India of its constitutional mandate for village autonomy • Fought bauxite companies for not getting gram sabha consent • Has …

A Republican Paradise: Mendha (Gadchirolli, Maharashtra)

Defied the Forest Act ÔÇó Every resident contributes part of annual income for community works ÔÇó If somebody bribes a …