This report covers a four‑day collective session in Munsiari (1-4 December,2025) with Himal Prakriti,
Kalpavriksh, local Van Panchayat leaders, youth, and Maati Sangathan women. The first three days focused on youth‑driven learning- Forest laws, FRA, and global frameworks. The final day brought Sarpanches and community members together, highlighting challenges of governance, funding, and tourism, and concluding with a shared call to strengthen Van Panchayats, and pursue FRA rights for lasting community control.

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The Protected Area Update database is now live and available for use
via the KV website: https://pau-database.kalpavriksh.org/ The database has 4400+ news stories covering more than 300 PAs from across the country.

Kalpavriksh mourns the death of Prof. Madhav Gadgil, a huge influence for many of its members in the fields of biodiversity, ecological history, combining conservation with people’s rights, and more. He was amongst the few modern-day ecologists to question the legitimacy of the Forest Department’s claims on ‘scientific forestry’, to provide rigorous research of use to people’s movements against destructive projects including the Silent Valley project in Kerala, and to provide support to the struggle to reclaim community rights to govern and use forests. Some of our members worked with him on processes such as the framing of the Biological Diversity Act and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. We will miss his presence but will continue to find inspiration in his work.

This policy brief examines the complexities surrounding the expansion and declaration of
Protected Areas (PAs) and their impact on the rights and livelihoods of local communities. It
highlights how these processes intersect with legal frameworks and underscores the need
for equitable, inclusive conservation. The brief also simplifies relevant laws and recent
amendments to help communities better understand and assert their rights under the Forest
Rights Act (FRA). Click HERE to read the policy.

On 8th October, during Wildlife Week, Kalpavriksh team members – Neha and Mahesh, held
an internal dialogue with the Bhimashankar field team – Subhash, Parvata, Vaishali, Suvarna
and Ganesh to deepen collective understanding of the Biodiversity Act (BD Act). Set in the
rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats, the session explored key provisions of the Act, the
roles of Biodiversity Management Commitees (BMCs), and the concept of Access and
Benefit Sharing (ABS). Participants also engaged with the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR)
template, discussing its relevance to Forest Management Plans (FMPs), and reflected on
ways the Community Forest Resource Management Commitee (CFRMC) and BMC can
collaborate to strengthen community-led forest governance.

Kalpavriksh’s article on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) arrangements within India’s Biodiversity Act is published in LEAD journal. ABS is meant to ensure that communities gain from the use of their knowledge and resources. This article analyses the amendments to India’s Biodiversity Act and their
implications for community rights, even as the nation commits globally to protect biodiversity and ensure community participation under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. To access the article click here.

The Van Gujjars, a semi-nomadic pastoral community of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and
Himachal Pradesh, honoured their deep bond with the forest through Sela Parv (meaning
green in Gojri)—a tree plantation and cultural festival held from July 20–30 across the three
states.

Organised by the Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangathan (VGTYS) with support from Kalpavriksh
and others, the festival featured the planting of native saplings, forest walks, traditional
bainth songs, and rituals symbolising their pastoral way of life. Thousands participated,
including Hon’ble Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari, forest officials, students, and members of the
Tharu tribe—reflecting growing solidarity and recognition of indigenous ecological
stewardship.

Amid eviction threats, Sela Parv has become more than a festival—it is an ecological
movement, affirming that conservation has always been a way of life for the Van Gujjars.