MoTA’s job is FRA, not land diversion: DG Forest
Director General of Forest and Special Secretary at environment ministry says will take up matter with MoTA
Ahead of SC hearing on FRA, MoEF asks states to share “encroachment” data
Forest Survey of India requests for geo-referenced locations of encroachments, but many states ill-equipped to do so
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
Only 16 per cent of potential community forest rights granted in Kerala
Of the 779 community claims, including CFR, passed by the gram sabha, only 328 have been cleared by the District Level Committee, shows a report …
Tribal ministry tells states to stop rejecting FRA claims on invalid grounds
In a letter dated June 27, Leena Nair, the then secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs had written to the chief secretaries of states raising …
One in five voters in Odisha are tribals. But do they get their due?
Odisha's record in addressing forest rights is poorer than the national average, despite the Union Tribal Minister hailing from the state
Communities denied justice due to logjam between tribal affairs and environment ministry
Even as cases of FRA violations are being reported, the environment ministry has backtracked on its earlier promise of involving communities in …
‘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
Uprooted for the sake of compensatory afforestation
To compensate for forest land diversion for Parsa coal block, Chhattisgarh government identifies 16 villages without approval from gram sabhas
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 …
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
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
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
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 …
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
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
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 …
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