MEF stumped
State governments badger the MEF to implement its own proposal of industrial plantations in degraded forests
Inside ad hoc forests
Government failure, both at the Centre and the states, is hurting communities and forests alike
Can forest clearance grantees have their names added in record of rights, MoEF&CC asks states
The environment ministry on February 22 wrote to all states, seeking their views on the matter, according to documents
Duty on minor produce will violate forest rights: Experts
The first draft to amend Indian Forest Act proposes to impose duty on minor produce that several tribals depend on for livelihood
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 …
"Forests are the main source of herbs"
Meghalaya's abundant flora is the basis of its traditional healthcare system. Now, rapid urbanisation and breakdown of the community structure …
Camel Yatra
Rajasthan's camel population has reduced dramatically during the last ten years. The Pali, Rajasthan-based non-governmental organisation Lokhit-…
Empower communities to restore forests: Study
Crucial forest-restoration areas in low-income countries — home to 12 per cent of their total population — can have an impact on …
Missing timber for wood
As the demand-supply gap for timber widens in India, it is time to exploit the potential of private plantations and government-managed forests in …
Mutual interest
Farmers care for the hill slopes only when the hills provide livelihood -- a simple lesson that has been forgotten
Old as the hills
Shifting agriculture on the hillsides has been going on for centuries. In recent times, it has been blamed for degrading the ecology. Agriculture …
Disengaging with WII should be given rethink, MoEF&CC tells PMO: RTI
In a letter to the PMO, ministry agrees ‘in principle’ to disengage with IIFM
After the People met
The Union ministry of home affairs wants to know: what is the Meghalaya government going to do about the 'People's Budget'?
Update land records to include FRA titles allotted, MoEF&CC directs states
Activists welcome ministry’s move citing conflict between tribals and officials when land records do not record FRA titles
Flawed forestry clearance mechanism needs an urgent fix
The MoEFCC must recognise that ill-planned intrusion of developmental projects into natural habitats is one of the most serious threats to long-…
Jungle virus stirs
A lesser-known viral disease, similar to Ebola and dengue and so far confined to just five forest districts of Karnataka, has recently been …
Forests feel the heat
Photosynthetic rate of forests in high elevation areas across the world has been falling since 1990s
Forest dwellers intensify protest
21 years on, profit sharing under joint forest management remains unclear in Maharashtra
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 …
Don’t just count the trees
Quality of forests is as important as tree cover
Karnataka forest department has filed just 130 chargesheets on forest encroachment since 1980: RTI
The RTI inquiry reveals that 204,229 acres were lost to encroachment while another 104,065 acres of land were illegally granted by the state …
Why South India needs the Shola forests of the Nilgiris
The forests and grasslands act as water towers and influence the fortunes of farmers in the Cauvery delta
Forest productivity - Lumber slumber
Forest Development Corporations are yet to keep pace with the rising demand for timber, though cultivable lands exist
Turn the clock back on the year gone past
Want to know what all happened in the world of environment, health, agriculture and forests in 2018? Here is your complete round-up of the last year