Decentralising the development-conservation trade-off: evidence from forestland diversions in India

Examines a policy reform in India to study how it shapes the development conservation policy trade off faced by governments.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Published: 30 October 2025

• Country: India
• Document Type: Briefing
• Theme: Economic Growth
• First published: 22 April 2025
• Authors: Chiplunkar G. and Das, S.

Abstract

This policy brief examines a policy reform in India that decentralised the approval decision to legally deforest land parcels, to study how it shapes the development conservation policy trade-off faced by governments.

This is an part of the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) programme.

Citation

Chiplunkar G and Das S. ‘Decentralising the development-conservation trade-off: evidence from forestland diversions in India’ STEG Project Policy Brief, 2025

Links

Decentralising the development-conservation trade-off: evidence from forestland diversions in India

Published 30 October 2025