This recent paper examines Forest Rights Act 2006 to analyse whether its detailed provisions are likely to fulfil its ambitious mandate. It discusses the  complementary institutional reform required for strengthening the law’s provisions & the limited attention this has so far received.

This paper analyses historical origins of forest rights deprivation and contemporary processes through which local people are seeking to restore their forest rights, taking the case of the Indian Forest Rights Act 2006 as an example to illustrate wider issues in historical institutional theory.

The condition of India’s forest and her forest dwellers is extremely grave. A fresh round of police attacks on tribal people

This paper looks at two interfacing trends shaping devolution of forest management in India: appropriation of space for forest management by diverse self-initiated community formations at the grass roots level despite state seizure of forests; and state-driven devolution where government policies define the scope of local authority in forest management.

Five experts debate the economics, science, efficiency and effects on women s health

With an increasing number of joint forest management projects being implemented, it is vital that forest departments become more gender sensitive. Unfortunately, there is a curious dearth of women field staff in the country's forests.

So dependent are the Bhils on trees, deforestation is eroding the very roots of their culture

Why do women who attempt changes in local land use patterns meet with so much hostility?