Hindu Editorial Analysis : 12-July-2023

The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, introduced by the Government, highlights the complex challenges involved in balancing industrial development with the preservation of forests. India’s forest cover has witnessed minimal growth, particularly within officially recorded forests. However, the increase in tree cover in orchards, plantations, and village homesteads has contributed to India’s claim of 24% forest and tree cover. This essay explores the key provisions and implications of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023.

State of India’s Forest Cover:
  1. Marginal increases in forest cover: Biennial reports from the Forest Survey of India indicate that India’s forest cover has experienced minimal growth, with stagnation or incremental growth observed within officially recorded forests.
  2. Rise in tree cover outside forests: The increase in tree cover can be attributed to orchards, plantations, and village homesteads, supplementing India’s claim of 24% forest and tree cover.
  3. International climate commitments: India aims to increase its forest and tree cover to 33% by 2030, thereby adding a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide to fulfill its international climate commitments.
Legislations for Forests in India:
  1. Apex Court’s suspension order, 1996: In 1996, the Supreme Court suspended the felling of trees across the country, preventing rampant deforestation on non-recorded forest land. However, it also posed challenges in excluding agricultural and homestead areas from recorded forests.
  2. Need for new legislations: The existing Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, was considered inadequate to incentivize private agro-forestry and tree plantation activities. India added 1,540 square kilometers of forest cover between 2019 and 2021, with most of it outside recorded forest areas. The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, addresses these limitations.
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023:
  1. Restrictions on activities in forests: The Act restricts the de-reservation of forests or the use of forest land for non-forest purposes, allowing such restrictions to be lifted with prior approval from the central government.
  2. Assigning forest land: The Act mandates prior approval from the central government for the assignment of forest land through a lease or any other means to organizations not owned by the government.
  3. Building forest carbon stock & improving livelihood: The amendments aim to raise plantations to build forest carbon stock and improve the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, aligning with the country’s ecological, strategic, and economic aspirations.
  4. Compensatory afforestation: The Bill facilitates land availability for developers to fulfill their obligation for compensatory afforestation when forest land is diverted for development projects.
Why the amendments are a Greenwash? (Issues & criticisms):
  1. No contribution to natural forest regeneration: The amendments prevent the classification of unclassified forest land, hindering efforts to regenerate natural forests. They also allow forest land near India’s borders to be appropriated for “strategic and security” purposes without central approval, raising concerns.
  2. Issues with carbon stock: Relying on private forests as a permanent carbon stock might not be practical, as market incentives could lead to their use as carbon credits, compromising their long-term sustainability.
  3. Lack of specific conditions for denying deforestation: The environment ministry has not laid out specific conditions to deny permission for deforestation in development projects, which raises concerns about potential ecological impacts.
  4. Impact on indigenous communities: The amendments limit the consent of indigenous and forest communities, eroding their control over traditionally owned land. Extensive plantations envisioned on their land may further marginalize these communities.
Choosing plantations over forests:
  1. Ecosystem services of natural forests: Natural forests provide various ecosystem services essential for biodiversity and the well-being of numerous species. They also directly support the livelihoods and subsistence of millions of people, unlike man-made plantations.
  2. Emphasizing the importance of existing ecosystems: The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report suggests that preventing degradation of existing ecosystems is more effective in mitigating the climate crisis than restoring destroyed ecosystems.
Why In News

The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, recently introduced by the Government, highlights the intricate task of striking a balance between the imperative for industrial progress and the critical need to safeguard our precious forest ecosystems. The bill aims to address the evolving landscape of environmental concerns while fostering sustainable practices that promote both economic growth and the preservation of our natural heritage.

MCQs about Examining the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023

  1. Which objective does the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 primarily aim to achieve?
    A. Promoting industrial development without considering forest conservation
    B. Encouraging the regeneration of natural forests
    C. Restricting the expansion of tree cover in orchards and plantations
    D. Balancing industrial development with the conservation of forests
    Correct Answer: D. Balancing industrial development with the conservation of forests
    Explanation: The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 aims to address the challenges involved in balancing industrial development with forest preservation.
  2. What is the key criticism of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023?
    A. Lack of provisions for compensatory afforestation
    B. Inadequate support for private agro-forestry activities
    C. Neglecting the regeneration of natural forests
    D. Insufficient consideration for indigenous communities
    Correct Answer: C. Neglecting the regeneration of natural forests
    Explanation: The amendments prevent the classification of unclassified forest land and do not contribute to regenerating natural forests, instead incentivizing afforestation for commercial purposes.
  3. What is the potential drawback of relying on private forests as a permanent carbon stock?
    A. Lack of market incentives for using them as carbon credits
    B. Insufficient land availability for private afforestation
    C. Ecological impacts on surrounding areas
    D. Weak enforcement of forest clearance regulations
    Correct Answer: A. Lack of market incentives for using them as carbon credits
    Explanation: The strong market incentives exist to use private forests as carbon credits, which might compromise their long-term sustainability as a carbon stock.
  4. According to the essay, what does the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report suggest?
    A. The importance of restoring destroyed ecosystems
    B. Prioritizing afforestation over the preservation of existing ecosystems
    C. The need for evidence-based decision-making in conservation laws
    D. The insignificance of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023
    Correct Answer: C. The need for evidence-based decision-making in conservation laws
    Explanation: The recent IPCC report highlights the significance of rigorous scientific evidence in guiding changes to conservation laws, ensuring their effectiveness in addressing climate realities.

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