Roots of change: Seed (Udaipur, Rajasthan)

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

Forests for people

Newly democratic Bhutan pushes community forestry to tackle rural poverty  

Forest rights and wrongs in Sonbhadra

Forcible eviction of tribals in Sonbhadra exposes forest rights faultlines

Odisha issues guidelines for FRA convergence plan implementation

The guidelines aim to increase benefits through community involvement

GUYANA

UNITED NATIONS

Chasing a paper (d)ream

Since the 1990s, the use of recycled paper has unfortunately reduced by half

Talking the walk

Centre uses SC order to turn forest land into revenue land

11-year-old order for relocating three Maharashtra villages used for conversion in 18 states

‘Review 150,000 forest rights claims rejected without reason’

Procedures violated; Rights body demands findings reports for Scheduled Tribe, Other Traditional Forest Dwellers claims

Chhattisgarh: Adivasis say FRA violated, as forest department marks trees for felling in 3 districts

Villagers now have the legal right to protect, regenerate, conserve and manage these lands

Farms, cities eat up 148 million hectares of biodiversity hotspots in 24 years: Study

The largest losses, mostly in forests, occurred in the Sundaland, Indo-Burma and Mesoamerica hotspots, all in developing countries

SC on FRA: 11.8 lakh forest dwellers can 'stay' put

The apex court has asked states to file affidavits describing process followed to reject tribals’ claims to traditional forestlands

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 …

Right of forest inhabitants for claims against eviction not limited to Adivasi, backward communities: Supreme Court

Forest communities do not only consist of people from recognised Adivasi and other backward communities, but also other groups residing in the …

Odisha tribals to sell kendu leaves and exercise their forest rights

The state’s forest department has not allowed sale of the leaves to anyone other than the goverment 

Revising an antiquated legislation

The environment ministry is updating the Indian Forest Act, but getting all the states to agree to it may prove to be tricky.

The woods are lovely

The conservation of forests and Natural Ecosystems Bill, sponsored by the ministry of environment and forests, seeks to weed out an obsolete …

US puts a price on Sri Lanka's forests

The US congress has reportedly approved a $5-million waiver, thereby quantifying the debt-for-nature swap offer made to Sri Lanka more than two …

Forest Rights Act: Are state govts the real land mafias?

State governments want to divert forest land for industrial expansion. That's why they reject claims of forest dwellers

SC vacates Madras HC order staying issue of pattas to forest dwellers

The Madras High Court had passed an interim order in April 2008 staying the issue of pattas in Tamil Nadu without its permission

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

Bamboo sale for bamboo rights

A Maharashtra village demands rights to transport and sell forest produce

Lost in interpretation - Maharashtra

Forest titles only on paper

Officials deny tribal village its forest management rights