The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently issued the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, conferring regulations set out by Section 4 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, effectively superseding the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2003. This move has sparked discourse on the subject of forest conservation in India.
Provisions of Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022
Among the new provisions established, three key committees have been formed. These include an Advisory Committee, a regional empowered committee for each integrated regional office, and a screening committee at State/Union Territory (UT) level. The roles of these committees are crucial in achieving efficient forest conservation.
The Advisory Committee advises or recommends the granting of approval under relevant sections concerning proposals for conservation of forests. The new rules also necessitate the formation of a Project Screening Committee in each state or union territory. These committees review proposals involving potential diversion of forest land. Depending upon the nature of the project and the area involved, they have a mandate to review projects within specific timeframes.
Compensatory Afforestation Guidelines
For proposals seeking to divert forest land in hilly or mountainous states, applicants will have options to establish compensatory afforestation in other states/UTs with less than 20% forest cover. It is a significant move to keep checks on loss of overall green cover due to development projects.
Past Initiatives for Forest Conservation in India
Over the years, different policies and acts have been put into place to protect India’s forests. The Indian Forest Policy of 1952 focused on increasing the country’s forest cover to one-third of the total land area. Following that, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, imposed restrictions on practising agro-forestry in forest areas without obtaining central permission.
The National Forest Policy of 1988 aimed at maintaining environmental stability and achieving ecological balance through forest conservation. It refocused attention from commercial exploitation to the ecological role of the forests and encouraged participatory management.
Other Related Legislation
Several other acts are also significant for forest conservation like the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, The Environment Protection Act of 1986, and The Biodiversity Diversity Act of 2002.
Forest Rights for Indigenous Communities
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, recognises the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers over forest lands they’ve resided in for generations.
Current State of Forests in India
The India State of Forest Report, 2021, reveals that India’s total forest and tree cover now stands at 7,13,789 square kilometres, constituting 21.71% of the country’s geographical area – a slight increase from 21.67% in 2019.
Reserved forests, protected forests and village forests differ in terms of their degrees of protection, with reserved forests having the highest restrictions. The constitutional provisions of India also play a crucial role in protecting forests, with the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, shifting forests and protection of wild animals and birds from the state to concurrent list. The Constitution of India also prescribes the safeguarding of forests and wildlife as State responsibility and as a fundamental duty of every citizen.
The changing regulations and continued commitment to preserving the natural environments demonstrate India’s resolve in fostering sustainability while juggling developmental needs.