There’s little evidence to show FRA is leading to large-scale deforestation

“One circumstantial evidence used is the Forest Survey of India data that indicate a decline of 679 km² of forest cover across 188 tribal districts of the country between 2009 and 2011 (the peak period of IFR claim recognition). An examination, however, reveals that two-thirds of this “loss” was in north-eastern states, where FRA has virtually not been implemented. Whereas, Jharkhand, which recognised forest rights over 145 km², showed an increase in forest cover of 83 km². So the correlation with FRA implementation is spurious.”