saving forests effectivelyNew Forest Conservation Rules Are Against Indigenous Populations: NCST Panel The new set of rules, introduced in July 2022, give precedence to "project clearance" instead of the rights of forest people, a panel alleged. By Amlan Sarkar
Green PetitionHow a Legal Petition Saved the Shola Forests of the Nilgiris The Madras High Court in its verdict stated, “not even an inch of [Shola] forest land should be encroached." By Akhila Vijayaraghavan
Right to LandTribal Community in Madhya Pradesh Evicted From Homes Without Official Notice The state forest department bulldozed houses despite an ongoing stay on any evictions during the pandemic, according to a report. By Rohitha Naraharisetty
Sinking FeelingIn Meghalaya, the Umngot River Keeps Tribal Livelihoods Afloat. A Dam Project Threatens That Balance Activists say any gains in electricity from the dam will come at the cost of indigenous livelihoods, health, and rights. By Aatreyee Dhar
To Protect The CommonsTell Me More: Talking Land Protection and Forest Rights With Kumar Sambhav "Shortcuts that brush off human rights seem good on paper, but the eventual conflict both hurts worker's employment and indefinitely blocks companies' investments." By Aditi Murti
Burning Into The NightWhy India Is Ablaze With Record Forest Fires A prolonged dry spell in parts of north India and Nepal, deficient fire services, and manmade activities have contributed to frequent fire breakouts. By Saumya Kalia
Ahead of ScheduleUttarakhand Battles 45 New Wildfires in 24 Hours, and Forest Fire Season Hasn’t Even Peaked Yet Soaring temperatures and dry weather have led to an "alarming" number of forest fires, officials say. By Aditi Murti
Up In SmokeHuge Wildfires Have Broken Out in Protected Forests, Tiger Habitats of Similipal "The scale of fire is massive. If the [government] does not try to combat it, Odisha’s forest cover may never be the same again." By Satviki Sanjay
Diverting BiodiversityCentre Approves Razing 140 Hectares of Goan Forest for Railway Project "The irony is that the people who are constitutionally elected to safeguard ... our environment are the same group of people ... giving said clearances." By Devrupa Rakshit
Questionable GainsIndia’s Forests Expanded This Decade, Yet Indigenous Communities Are Still Being Forced Out: Report Even as forest cover increased, forested land was lost to destructive, pollutive industry and development. By Liesl Goecker
Rocks For SaleRajasthan’s Wildlife Board Rezones Protected Forest to Allow Mining of Unique Sandstone The move comes after pressure from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to free the raw material needed for building the Ram temple in Ayodhya. By Satviki Sanjay
Let Them StayResettling Tribal Communities Outside of Protected Forests Costs More Than Involving Them in Conservation Efforts: Report "The current model of protected areas based on the exclusion of people is not feasible for effectively protecting biodiversity in India." By Devrupa Rakshit
Robbing HabitatsUttarakhand Plans to Revoke Protections for 5,400‑Sq Km Elephant Reserve to Make Way for Airport Expansion The government claims the move won't affect conservation efforts, but animal advocates disagree. By Devrupa Rakshit
Keepers of Our HistoryWhen We Destroy Forests, We Lose Millennia of Data Chronicling Earth, Human History Forests hold multitudes of data that helps us understand climate change and the effects of habitat destruction. By Akhila Vijayaraghavan
Sacred GrovesUnchecked Rising Sea Levels Could Drown Mangrove Forests by 2100: Study Mangroves provide critical protection from storm surges for millions of people who live near coastal water. By Aditi Murti