Supreme Court Halts Reduction of Forest Areas in India
NEW DELHI: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has restrained both central and state governments from taking any actions that would lead to a reduction in forest areas across the country. This decision comes amid concerns that recent amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act could potentially exclude 1.97 lakh square kilometers of land from being classified as forest.
Urgent Need for Forest Preservation
The bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran, emphasized that even in cases requiring urgent use of forest land, alternative land must be provided for reforestation. The court’s directive aims to ensure that forest areas remain intact, regardless of governmental needs.
Petition Against Recent Amendments
The court’s ruling stemmed from a petition challenging the newly introduced Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023. Petitioners, including a group of retired Indian Forest Officers, argue that these amendments undermine India’s established forest governance and expose vast tracts of forests to non-forest purposes.
Concerns Over New Definitions
According to senior advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan, the new statutory mechanisms implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) are designed to facilitate the diversion of forest land with insufficient regard for the ecological consequences. Critics assert that the revised definition of forest land leaves vulnerable areas unprotected, restricting safeguards only to officially declared forests.
As the government prepares to respond to these allegations, they have been granted three weeks to provide a status report on the declared forest area in India.
Protecting Our Forests
With the Supreme Court’s latest ruling, it is evident that the preservation of India’s forests remains a top priority. For those interested in supporting environmental initiatives, check out Looffers.com, where you can find eco-friendly products and services that help promote sustainability.
