Earlier this month, on October 2nd, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change released a ‘consultative paper’, which recommended 14 amendments to the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) of 1980.

The Act, which was put in place to control deforestation, might now find its power diluted by some of the recent recommendations. They broadly propose to exempt some categories of infrastructure developers from requiring the Central Government’s permission to use forest land for non-forestry purposes. But, confusingly enough, the amendments also signal a huge push for plantations and preserving certain ‘pristine forests’.

So what exactly are these changes? What do they really mean for our forests? How will this impact the many forest-dependent communities of India? We spoke to Meenal Tatpati of the Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group, Manoj Misra, Convenor of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan and Prakash Bhandari of the Himdhara Environment Research and Action Group to understand more.

Here is the link to the video: https://thebastion.co.in/politics-and/environment/what-is-the-future-of-indias-forests-explaining-the-proposed-forest-conservation-act-amendments/

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The Ladakh Vikalp Sangam on Food & Agriculture was co-organised by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Agr. Dept of Ladakh UT, Local Futures Ladakh, Snow Leopard Conservancy – India Trust, Ladakh Art and Media Organisation, and Kalpavriksh Vikalp Sangam at Saboo village from 19^th-20^th September, 2021.

The over-arching focus of the sangam was to focus on how to implement Ladakh’s Mission Organic (target to make the region 100% organic by 2025), along with saving its food traditions, sustaining livelihoods, and protecting its fragile ecology. A detailed discussion was facilitated on imagining and re-defining the wellbeing of Ladakh (in the context of agro-tourism, food and pastoralism).

A number of follow-up actions have emerged post the two-day gathering that will be taken up by the Council and civil society groups. The Sangam saw active participation of farmers, NGOs, scientists, food entrepreneurs, govt officials and the Exec. Councillor (Agr). All of this was accompanied by displays of organic / local produce, and of course, delicious traditional lunches! And a trip to the farms of organic farmers in Saboo village.