World set to lose India-sized forest cover by 2050
The report predicts that 289 million hectares of tropical forests will be cleared between 2016 and 2050
Trouble in Tripura
Restrictions on jhum cultivation, large-scale immigration and timber smuggling have made Tripura an environmentally poor state
Similipal forest fire a jolt to livelihood of lac collectors
As many as 2,000 tribals, mostly women and who made craft items from lac, have been stripped of livelihoods
'The forest mafia is very powerful'
AJAY S RAWAT spent six months in the Indo-Nepal terais to trace the methods of timber smugglers
Profit an illusion for these Madhya Pradesh tribals forced to sell products to middlemen
Most of the tribal families here sell their products to intermediaries because of the unavailability of proper markets
Estimating the potential of community forest rights: What makes implementation challenging
Given the complexity of land and forest settlement in India and the poor quality of land records and maps available, generating an estimate is …
World’s leading financial institutions continue to bankroll deforestation
Most of them have failed to manage and mitigate environmental, social and governance risks
Alleviating poverty: Forests, trees can be trump card post COVID-19, says report
The World Bank has projected extreme poverty to increase for the first time in 20 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Desertification in India: Soiled Dhule land is shallow, unfit for plantation
This Maharashtra district, one of India’s land degradation hotspots, struggles with soil erosion coupled with low forest cover, illegal …
Illegal logging major threat to development in west Africa: FAO
The activities not only harm economies but are also a source of funding for terror groups
Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (November 10, 2020)
Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
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
Five African countries pledge to curb illegal timber trade
Urge consumer countries to include the issue of illegal timber as priority agenda in their summits
Climate change is playing spoilsport in kendu leaf collection across eastern India; here’s how
Rains, instead of heat and dust storms during April and May, have led to a proliferation of flies which are bothering collectors
Climate change projects aren't working because communities are left out
Unless they trust climate change programmes, communities will continue to plunder forests rendering such interventions redundant
Forest fire mitigation strategies in Madhya Pradesh should prioritise tribal communities
Local communities, government agencies, non-profits and researchers must work together to mitigate forest fires and build resilient socioeconomic …
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 …
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 …
In the tax bracket again
The Orissa government has slapped a forest development tax on three minor forest produce items -- tendu leaf, timber and bamboo. Seen as a …
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 …
Forest states want money in lieu of felling
On August 1, 2003, Madhya Pradesh made a plea in the Supreme Court seeking a fund-generating mechanism for forest protection. Earlier, in June, …
THE SECOND INDEPENDENCE
Tiny forgotten villages teach India a firsthand lesson in governance. Down To Earth reporters and photographers fan out to six states to discover …
Timber companies plundering Congo’s rainforests, says report
A probe by non-profit Global Witness shows that timber companies are defying forest protection laws and underpaying taxes to plunder natural resources
COVID-19: Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda writes to chief ministers over livelihood of tribals
It is imperative to initiate proactive measures for the well-being of tribes, the minister writes
At loggerheads
While the state government is keen to introduce JFM, villagers say there is no need for that since they have been carrying out all protection …