The recent deliberation within the Rajya Sabha by the Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) regarding the country’s forest area brought about significant insights. This data – derived from the India State of Forest Report 2019 – follows a biennial assessment conducted by an organization that operates under MoEFCC known as the Forest Survey of India based in Dehradun. The report also includes information on the nation’s wasteland according to the Wasteland Atlas 2019.
Understanding the ‘Forest’
In legal terms, the Central Forest Act fails to provide a concrete definition for the word ‘forest’. Neither the Indian Forest Act 1927 nor the Forest Conservation Act 1980 offers clear criteria for identifying a forest. It’s upon each state to decide their individual definitions of what comprises a forest, facilitated by the 1996 T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs the Union of India judgment by the Supreme Court. According to this ruling, the term “forest” should be taken as per its dictionary meaning, thereby covering all officially recognized forests irrespective of being reserved, protected, or otherwise.
Dimensions of Indian Forests
India’s total recorded forest area is approximately 7,67,419 square kilometers. This figure, however, remains uncategorized into disputed and undisputed sections. These forests are classified into Reserved, Protected, and Unprotected categories based on their management and access restrictions.
Reserved Forests, spanning 4,34,853 sq km, are directly supervised by the government with strict prohibitions on public entry for grazing or commercial purposes. Protected Forests cover 2,18,924 sq km and are managed by government but allow local communities to gather produce and graze cattle without causing substantial harm. Lastly, Unprotected Forests are free-for-all regions where there are no restrictions on tree cutting or animal grazing, and these cover about 1,13,642 sq km.
Wastelands of India
According to the Wasteland Atlas 2019 published by the Ministry of Rural Development, India has approximately 5,57,665.51 square kilometers of wasteland. This doesn’t indicate desertified land but rather areas not specifically utilized for agriculture, commercial purposes, or labeled as forest land.
Government Initiatives for Forest Conservation
Several initiatives have been taken up by the government such as the National Mission for a Green India under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) launched in 2014. Its primary aim is to protect the nation’s biological resources and associated livelihoods against negative climate change impacts.
The National Afforestation Programme (NAP) has been running since 2000 to afforest degraded lands under the guidance of MoEFCC. Then there’s the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA Funds) launched in 2016. Here, 90% of the fund is disbursed among states while the remaining 10% is retained by the center. Finally, the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, created in 2001, deals with increasing desertification and the necessary countermeasures.
Constitutional Provisions Concerning Forests
Forests are included in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The responsibility for forests and protection of wild animals and birds was transferred from the State to the Concurrent list via the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. Article 51 A (g) of the constitution specifies it a fundamental duty of every citizen to safeguard and enhance the natural environment including forests and wildlife. Article 48 A emphasizes the state’s role in protecting and improving the environment along with safeguarding forests and wildlife.
Legislations Governing Forests
The National Forest Policy 1988 governs India’s forests with a focus on environmental stability and livelihood. In addition, the Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 acknowledges the rights of tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to access forest resources for their diverse needs including livelihood, habitation, and socio-cultural necessities.