The Law & Policy section examines key environmental regulations—including the EIA Notification, Forest Conservation rules, wildlife protection laws, and river, lake, and wetland governance frameworks. We review draft notifications and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), providing clear explainers on what they mean for the environment and enabling citizens to submit informed objections and comments to the government. Through analyses of government circulars, court judgments, and official records, we clarify how policy decisions on paper translate into ecological impacts on the ground. Our work identifies legal loopholes, governance failures, and regulatory gaps that threaten rivers, forests, wildlife, and community well-being. Each article distils complex legal material into accessible insights for citizens, journalists, and policymakers. Through this space, Mapping Malnad seeks to strengthen environmental accountability and foster informed public participation in safeguarding the Western Ghats, rivers, lakes, protected areas, and beyond.