‘Indigenous people have been effective stewards of biodiversity globally’

Down To Earth speaks to University of Connecticut professor Prakash Kashwan about his book, Democracy in the Woods

Odisha ST/SC department raises alarm over FRA implementation

Only 4.76 per cent of the claims for forest land in Odisha have been disposed

Global non-profits appeal to India to prevent forced evictions of forest dwellers

Such evictions would violate India's obligations on human rights and biodiversity, they said

Van Gujjars: A repeat of historical injustice

The Uttarakhand High Court’s August 16 order on the removal of Van Gujjar families from the Jim Corbett National Park shows the deep-seated …

Odisha food commission stresses on FRA to beat hunger

Panel chief writes to all collectors to implement Forest Rights Act properly

Rightful or rightless: Forest villagers in Saranda struggle to shed ‘illegal’ tag

Jharkhand forest department refuses to recognise rights of occupants of forest villages like Marchi gada in West Singhbhum

Villagers win brewing forest rights fight in Odisha

The Odisha government had to scrap a Rs 102 crore brewing project when resolute villagers braved the government and police to protect felling of …

Final National Forest Policy to be out soon

Most comments in the draft policy concern with the dilution of the Forest Rights Act and opening up forest land for private players 

Reforms in India’s forest sector stuck in reverse gear

The proposed amendment to the IFA reveals the mindset of policymakers regarding the forest sector has not changed

Chhattisgarh govt begins process to grant FRA to Abujmarh tribals

Government to grant habitat rights to Abujh Marias, a particularly vulnerable tribal group that reside in the forest, considered a bastion of Naxalism

Information recharge: Meet Devansh Mehta of CGnet Swara

Devansh Mehta believes that people can be sensitised through incentives, be it as small as mobile top-ups

Kalahandi forest dwellers allege FRA violation by state forest department

Activists say that in 3 villages of Kalahand district, the Odisha forest department is imposing on the rights of forest …

MP forest dwellers protest eviction, 4 hurt by police pellets

Allegation against state: Violation of Forest Rights Act

SC seeks reports on rejected forest rights claims from states

The apex court has been hearing a petition filed by retired forest officials and some conservation-related non-profits, who want the FRA to be …

Gujarat land activists allege detention for demonstrating over rights

Protesters seek land rights under Forest Rights Act, roll back of decision to give land to corporations for farming

FRA: Deadline gone, states yet to submit data on rejected claims to FSI

The Supreme Court had ordered states that had not given requisite data to the FSI by August 31

Sonbhadra women, others seek to participate in Supreme Court FRA hearing

Two ST women demand “equal and independent” rights to women over forest land

Bamboo will soon be declassified as a tree to encourage use and supply

Currently, bamboo is considered a tree under the Indian Forest Act and a non-timber forest produce under the Forest Rights Act 

Arjun Munda plans Schedule V states' meet on FRA

Conference aims at creating awareness about provisions of Forest Rights Act: Tribal Affairs ministry

More than two decades after SC order, deemed forests still undefined

The Forest Advisory Committee recently asked states to come up with a criterion and identify these forests

1.5 million tribals in Odisha hit by 18% GST on Sal leaf

Forest-dwelling communities have been granted rights to trade Sal leaf and other minor forest produce without any taxation under the forest rights act

The Simlipal quandary: Tribals or tigers, who should take precedence?

After fire sweeps through village of tribespeople relocated for wildlife’s sake, questions are being asked

Jharkhand govt doesn’t have legal rights over 38% of its forest

The state forest department has not issued final notifications to convert 7.33 lakh hectares of forest land, rendering this land legally …

The Indian Forest Act’s proposed amendment is dangerous and fanciful

Like other policies in the recent past, this one also shows the complete unwillingness of the forest bureaucracy in accepting a different role

CJI Bench sends fresh petition on FRA to Arun Mishra Bench

Since a similar matter is before the Mishra Bench, the CJI Bench has sent the new petition to it