Into the Woods

Week 2

Links for Lecture on Indian Forests  and Forest Conflicts (Oct. 6, '08)

Forest Ecology overview:

General list and description of types of forests in India see: http://www.edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/forestry/types.htm#Dry%20tropical%20forests

Maps of India's ecological zones and wildlife area: http://www.wii.gov.in/envis/gisdatabase.html

Links for Forest Rights debate:

Forest Peoples Movement and experience:

• Declaration (UN conference document leading to forest rights bill) http://www.forestpeoples.org/documents/asia_pacific/peoples_decl_delhi_8...
• History of Appiko forest dwellers movement http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/sep/env-appiko.htm
• Jhum cultivation conflict http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/jun/agr-jhum.htm
• People displaced http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/sep/hrt-gujjars.htm

Summary of the Forest Rights Act

• Overview of the Forest Rights Act (pro-con analysis) http://www.indiatogether.org/2006/apr/law-forest.htm
• Summary of the act and related debate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Rights_Act

Argument that bill will be bad for the environment (Vanashakti's anti-Forest Rights Bill campaign): http://www.vanashakti.in/about_the_site.htm

Arguments that the bill will not do enough to protect forest dwellers' rights or the environoment:

• Industry access simultaneously increased  http://www.indiatogether.org/2007/apr/env-forbill.htm
• Problem of coporate encroachers http://www.indiatogether.org/2005/sep/env-fordivide.htm

Possitive assessment of Bill's impact so far http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/aug/gov-forestact.htm

Related legislative debates in India:

• Conservation/aforestation law http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/aug/env-campa.htm
• Land aquisition act http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/may/law-land.htm

NOTE: Remember to look at the LINKS section of this Program webpage for additional resources on India's history and geography.

Week 1
Links for lecture on NW Geology (Oct. 3, '08)

Joe's Powerpoint (partially assembled by Paul Butler)