Ever since the draft Forest Rights Act (FRA) was conceived in 2004, hardline conservationists have opposed it tooth and nail. Their main claim has been that FRA would lead, and now is leading, to deforestation, something our country can ill-afford. Unfortunately, these claims have been based, first on a misunderstanding of FRA, and then on poor data and its misinterpretation. It is important that these canards are put to rest as FRA is discussed in the Supreme Court.