Forest Rights Act could play decisive role in LS polls: Report

One-fourth of constituencies in mainland India have FRA implementation as a core issue and can influence winning margins, finds a study

Government files petition seeking stay of SC order on FRA; hearing tomorrow

On February 13, SC had asked state authorities to submit affidavits explaining why evictions, wherever ordered, have not taken place

Patches of green

Even after 10 years, the joint forest management programme has made little headway

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (April 24, 2019)

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

'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  

Rewind 2018: Development and fire eat up India’s forest cover

The country’s greenery suffered several blows in the past year as it was compromised for vertical growth and authorities could not curb …

Gujarat is misusing forest laws under garb of ‘sustainable’ development

Forest lands, over which rights of adivasis have been recognised or are pending recognition, have been usurped for carrying out plantations under …

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?

Back to basics

Integrating indigenous knowledge in joint forest management projects is an essential prerequisite for the success of such programmes, but years …

Tribal affairs ministry’s report on FRA riddled with discrepancies

Area of forest land recognised reduced, more titles distributed than approved

Revamp forest policy

Heading Downhill

Thailand policymakers' volte-face on community forestry bill jolts devolution process

India’s ‘missing’ forests: DTE analysis exposes big gap in latest national forest survey estimates

According to a DTE analysis, there are states where over 30-50 per cent of the land classified as forests is ‘missing’ from the …

MoTA raises objections to environment ministry’s FRA compliance circular

In the circular, the ministry had clarified that FRA compliance certificates would not be required in Stage I of the forest diversion process

Industries eye forest land for plantations

Wood-based firms want to convert forest areas to their own use for raw material. In doing so, they ignore the fate of millions of rural poor, who …

King without a jungle

The sandalwood forests are gone. Now an ageing Veerappan looks for greener pastures

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 …

World’s forests continue shrinking, but at a slower pace: FAO report

Countries now have more knowledge of their forest resources and indicators reveal positive progress in forest management

When laws make out laws

Everybody's a loser. Forest guards die for laws that cannot be defended. Poor people get exploited. Veerappan rules the jungle. Sandalwood trees …

Regreening of Japan

The Japanese have regenerated their forests twice after their large-scale destruction. But today, it is doing so at the cost of tropical forests …

Seeking Solutions

POLICY THAT WORKS FOR FORESTS AND PEOPLE·James Mayers and Stephen Bass·International Institute for Environment and development (IIED)…

Orphaned by apathy

Hidden from the outside world, this is the plight of the Van Taungiyas. They were hired during the British rule as resident labourers to plant …

Peace isn't elusive

After the Pulwama terror strike, the Kashmir debate has reopened. We bring to you an older article from brighter times, which underscores the …