In an overpopulated country like India, land is a scare resource and the Forest Rights Act (2006) recognises land rights of communities inside forests. For long, industrial and agricultural lobbies have been eyeing our protected forests. Besides, there is strong pressure from a consortium of timber, mining and poaching mafia. These forces will exploit every opportunity to manipulate the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (2006) and the gullible marginalised communities to grab forest land and resources. On the other hand, by creating a large number of stakeholders who will double up as custodians of forests, the Act can shield India’s biodiversity against large-scale conversion of forest land for mega development projects.

From my field contacts, I have a number of leads to unique – some alarming, some encouraging – situations developing on ground regarding the implementation, interpretation or manipulation of the Forest Rights Act (2006). As I learn from these contacts, different groups are already active on ground, interpreting and/or manipulating the Act differently. I will shortlist a few case studies, visit the spots and spend time on ground to investigate the issues at work. Each field report will require thorough understanding of local stakeholders – communities, officials, politicians, NGOs, market forces – their viewpoints and modus operandi. It will also require perspectives and validations from different decision-making authorities in different state and central ministries and subject/area experts.

I will engage a still photographer, as and when required, for visual documentation. Services of a video cameraman will also be used, as per requirement to fit the budget, to record situations that demand video documentation.

My reports will highlight the early lessons of a makeover process which has long term consequences for conservation of forests and the well-being of forest communities. The result of my field investigations will be published in a series of articles in national media and a website.