Van Gujjars: People of the forest or nowhere?
In Uttarakhand, there is a strong drive to displace the nomadic pastoral tribe of Van Gujjars in order to protect wildlife. ‘Van’ means forest. It was an identity conceived by…
Indian government makes another attempt to amend the Indian Forest Act 1927
The government of India is once again making a move to amend the Indian Forest Act 1927 even as the effort made last time led to a serious pushback from…
Communities or forest department? Similipal fires rake up debate on ownership of National Park
As Similipal National Park and Tiger Reserve in Odisha burned over the past month, the debate over whether ownership of the park should be in the hands of the forest…
An elephant corridor raises conflict in the Nilgiris
The recent conflict between the owners of a homestay and a male elephant in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, that led to the death of…
Rajasthan’s latest draft forest policy proposes strict control over mining
The Rajasthan government has proposed a new draft forest policy which will drive the management and protection of forest in the largest state of India in the next 10 years.…
Removing forest dwellers from areas to protect biodiversity costs more than involving them: report
The cost of relocating tribal people, forest dwellers and pastoral communities for biodiversity conservation in India, is projected to be over a thousand times more than the cost of community-based…
Is joint community ownership the way forward for mineral governance in India?
“Mining companies come to our villages and our forests to exploit the resources underneath and everyone in the value chain makes money. But it is the tribal community that bears…
Forest officers demand better social security and firearms
Miffed with poor support from the government for their welfare and protection while performing their duties, the association of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers has sought a series of…
Uttarakhand’s draft ecotourism policy could threaten biodiversity
About 65 percent of India’s hill state of Uttarakhand is forested. Now, a latest proposed ecotourism policy suggests using vast stretches of these forests for ecotourism activities. While the policy…
Chhattisgarh government’s flip-flop on forest rights
The Chhattisgarh government revised its May 28 order making the state forest department the nodal agency of the CFRR (community forest resource rights), which is under the Forest Rights Act,…
Special series
Wetland Champions
- The story of Jakkur lake sets an example for inclusive rejuvenation projects
- Welcome to Tsomgo lake: Please don’t litter
- Managing waste to save the wetlands of Himachal Pradesh
- The monks who protect the Bhagajang wetland
Environment And Health
- India’s dietary guidelines have a relatively lower carbon footprint: study
- [Commentary] Will the COVID-19 second wave buck the trend for the Indian middle class?
- How did a once water-rich village in Goa become entirely dependent on tankers?
- Avian flu in India brings forth environmental, animal and human health linkages
Almost Famous Species
- Common, yet threatened: The case of northeast India’s Malayan giant squirrels
- Newly described scorpion species from Western Ghats highlight need for more research and conservation
- Elusive white-bellied heron spotted in the high Himalayas
- New marine flatworm from rare group discovered from the coral atolls of Lakshadweep
Eco Hope
- Two young women in Nagaland are leading a crusade against e-waste
- Shrimp farming gets a push in Uttar Pradesh as India looks to boost exports in fisheries sector
- Indian “Green Oscar” winner Nuklu Phom envisions a Biodiversity Peace Corridor
- Community restores grasslands in Lamkani, making the village drought-resilient
India's Iconic Landscapes
- The development plan that could end up sinking Lakshadweep islands
- Andaman forests need longer intervals between repeat logging for recovery: study
- Chilika lake records rise in migratory bird numbers, sees new species too
- [Commentary] Counting bulbuls to conserve the Deccan hillocks and scrub forests
Beyond Protected Areas
- [Commentary] Wildlife in Tillari valley at risk from land-use change
- Indian “Green Oscar” winner Nuklu Phom envisions a Biodiversity Peace Corridor
- Saving the Asiatic black bear from illegal wildlife trade needs nuanced conservation
- Mammals use cashew plantations in the northern Western Ghats
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- Building up carbon sinks in northeast India’s shifting cultivation landscape
- Coloured cotton from India on the cusp of commercial release in 2021
- Revival and absence of Bengaluru’s traditional crop varieties
- India’s millets policy: is it headed in the right direction?
