Government Approves Diversion of 90,001.5 Hectares of Forest Land in Five Years, Informs Rajya Sabha

Government Approves Diversion of 90,001.5 Hectares of Forest Land in Five Years, Informs Rajya Sabha

The approval of around 90,000 hectares of forest land for development projects between January 2018 and April 2023 has raised concerns about environmental impact and conservation efforts in India. The diversion of forest land for infrastructure and development projects can have significant consequences for biodiversity, wildlife habitats, and local communities dependent on forest resources.

The states with the highest diversion of forest land are Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Gujarat, while even smaller states and Union Territories have also recorded forest land diversion.

The major reasons for the diversion of forest land are road projects and mining, which are critical for infrastructure development and economic growth. However, it is essential to strike a balance between development and environmental conservation to ensure sustainable growth.

Environmentalists and conservationists have raised concerns about the increasing pace of forest land diversion and its potential long-term impacts on India’s forests and ecosystems. They advocate for stronger measures to protect forests, wildlife, and indigenous communities that rely on forest resources for their livelihoods.

The issue of forest land diversion remains a complex and contentious topic in India, and stakeholders continue to debate the best approaches to balancing development goals with environmental protection. Striking a balance between development and conservation will require careful planning, effective policies, and robust implementation mechanisms to ensure the country’s sustainable development while preserving its rich biodiversity and natural heritage.

The issue of forest land diversion for development projects in India is a matter of concern and has raised questions about environmental impact and conservation efforts. The Andaman and Nicobar forest approval data do not reflect around 13,000 hectares of forest land to be diverted for the proposed township and area development project on Great Nicobar. Forest clearance for this project was granted on October 27 last year, but the details are not in the public domain due to its strategic and national importance.

In response to a question by MP Vivek K Tankha, junior environment minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated that a total of 90,001.5 hectares of forest land has been approved for diversion in the past five years. However, he did not provide the percentage of vegetation cover lost due to these diversions.

The ambiguity in the definition of forests used by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) plays a role in how the proportion of area diverted seems minuscule compared to India’s total forest cover of 71.37 million hectares. The FSI considers all land with a tree canopy density of more than 10%, including parks, orchards, plantations, and gardens, as forests for enumeration. However, the diversion concerns only notified forests.

The large-scale diversion of notified forests for non-forestry purposes raises concerns among experts. Such proposals for diversion of forest land are considered on a case-to-case basis under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. It is essential to strike a balance between development and environmental conservation to ensure sustainable growth and protect the country’s valuable forest resources. Strong implementation of environmental regulations and compensatory afforestation measures are necessary to mitigate the impact of forest land diversion on India’s ecosystems and biodiversity.

In response to concerns about compensatory afforestation, the junior environment minister, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, clarified that the responsibility for compensatory afforestation lies with the state forest departments and not with the user agencies such as NHAI, BRO, and state PWDs. The record of compensatory afforestation carried out in the field is not maintained at the level of the Ministry.

Regarding the Great Nicobar project, Choubey stated that around 9.64 lakh trees are estimated to be felled in the forest area earmarked for development. However, he mentioned that about 15% of the development area will remain as green and open spaces, which means that the actual number of trees to be felled could be less than the estimated figure. He also assured that the tree felling would be done in a phased manner to minimize the impact on the forest ecosystem.

The development of the Great Nicobar project is strategic and of national importance, which is why forest clearance documents for the project are not in the public domain. This development highlights the balance between the need for development and the importance of preserving natural ecosystems and forests. It remains essential to ensure that environmental conservation measures, such as compensatory afforestation and phased tree felling, are effectively implemented to mitigate the impact of such development projects on the environment.

The information provided by the junior environment minister, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, indicates that compensatory afforestation for the Great Nicobar project is planned to be carried out in an area provided by the Government of Haryana. This approach seems to be taken due to the limited scope of plantation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and it is aimed at providing greater ecological value by undertaking compensatory afforestation in a suitable location.

However, the scale of forest diversion and the increasing number of approvals for using forest land for non-forest purposes raise concerns about the potential impact on the environment and ecological balance. With the passage of the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2023, which provides exemptions to forests from the purview of the act, there may be a need for careful consideration and assessment of the ecological and environmental consequences of such diversions.

The regulatory framework governing forest diversions is based on the principle that the loss of forest land and tree cover will be compensated through afforestation and reforestation efforts. Expanding the footprint of such impacts through increased approvals of forest land diversions may lead to challenges in maintaining ecological balance and protecting natural ecosystems.

Sustainable development practices and rigorous environmental impact assessments are essential to ensure that any forest diversions are carried out responsibly and in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts on the environment, wildlife, and local communities. This approach will be crucial in balancing the need for development with the imperative of protecting our natural heritage.