Skip to main content

Forest conservation amendments to divert land for industrial, mining, commercial use

By Bharat Dogra 

The recent debate on amendment of forest conservation law has seen the emergence of very relevant objections, and interests of environment protection as well as democracy demand that now the government should give adequate attention and importance to these objections. The advantages which a democracy provides in terms of the possibilities of corrective actions can be properly realized only if the government remains open till the end to examining the objections on their merit and then making the due changes on the basis of this.
The importance and relevance of these objections emerges also from the fact that these are intimately related to the concerns that have been regularly voiced for a long time regarding the protection of forests and protection of rights of tribal communities or other communities living in and around forest areas. Briefly, we may mention four concerns that have been raised quite consistently by those who have been close to understanding and protecting forests and forest communities.
Firstly, there is a clear understanding that natural forests have a role of great importance in protecting ecological balance and protection from various disasters, a role which has further increased in times of climate change. There is thus a clear need for stopping the diversion of more and more of natural forests and forest land for various commercial activities. This diversion had been increasing at a very fast pace in the earlier years but this could be checked to a significant extent after the forest conservation law was enacted in 1980. This achievement of the forest conservation act should be recognized, respected and protected for future years too.
Secondly, the important ecological contribution of natural forests should be clearly distinguished from that of plantations of various trees of commercial importance (such as eucalyptus trees, or palm oil trees). While protection of natural forests is always beneficial in terms of protection of environment and livelihoods (and food security) of forest communities, the promotion of commercial plantations on the contrary can often be harmful and disruptive for environment as well as communities. This is revealed by the experience of not just India but several other countries as well. Hence natural forests should never be confused with commercial plantations. The protection of remaining natural forests is very important in itself, and also as a guide to what kind of plants and trees grow best in particular conditions, and in what kinds of mix.
Thirdly, the tribal and similar communities living in and around forest areas have suffered from historical injustices in terms of resource access and livelihoods, leading to many-sided deprivation, and hence the protections provided to them in the form of various rights legislations should be respected. Their life and livelihood patterns have been closely related to natural forests, and there are various possibilities of improving their livelihoods related to the protection of natural forests which should be enhanced. The wider aim should be to promote the harmony of protecting natural forests and protecting sustainable livelihoods of communities.
Fourthly, the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation should be met within this framework, and in fact this challenge is best met on the basis of this harmony and understanding. To respond to climate change by creating commercial plantations of trees is neither sound science, nor is it good for sustainable livelihoods. This will harm the cause of climate change mitigation as well as adaptation. However protection of natural forests and wild life supported in natural conditions of these forests by creating close links with sustainable livelihoods will help both climate change mitigation and adaptation. As for planting new trees, these should mimic local natural forests to the extent possible, and should be created on the basis of proving sustainable livelihoods to local poorest and landless people, with rights provided to them over all non-timber produce of these forests as long as forests are well protected by them. All this is based on the understanding that climate change mitigation and adaptation are extremely important but should be based on protecting and promoting ( never disrupting) sustainable livelihoods of rural communities. There is a real danger of big business promoting its narrow and selfish interests in the name of climate change mitigation and adaptation by promoting a highly distorted agenda which is disruptive for rural communities, and therefore it is very important to emphasize this.
All these are issues of abiding importance, and it is in their wider context that the various objections voiced to the officially proposed amendments of forest conservation legislation should be seen. It is widely apprehended that if these amendments go ahead, the diversion of natural forests which has been significantly checked by the existing forest conservation law would be adversely affected and more forests would be diverted for various industrial, mining or commercial activities, at a time when it has become important to protect every square inch of the remaining natural forests. Such diversion may increase particularly in the case of forests not specifically listed as protected or reserved. Similarly, the interests of tribal and other forest communities may be disrupted (instead of protected) by a distorted climate agenda, such as the one based on industrial and commercial plantations.
Hence the debate on these amendments also presents a crucial moment for defining our climate commitments—for deciding whether these commitments will be promoted in ways which are disruptive for communities or whether these commitments will be taken forward in protective ways.
Keeping in view the wider importance of these issues, the government should not hurriedly go ahead with these amendments, ignoring the various well-intentioned and well-argued objections that have been raised by community organizations working at grassroots as well as by various experts. The standing parliamentary committee attached to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change should also be able to examine these amendments and provide its detailed comments. We need time for this as well as consideration of these comments by the government. Hence it is clear that hurried introduction of amendments will be harmful and a denial of the corrective role of democracy.
---
The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Man over Machine and India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food

Comments

TRENDING

राजस्ऄान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, ą¤ारखंऔ और केरल फिसऔ्औी: जल जीवन मिशन के लक्ष्य को पाने समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी

- राज कुमार सिन्हा*  जल संसाधन से जुऔ़ी स्ऄायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्ऄान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, ą¤ारखंऔ और केरल फिसऔ्औी साबित हुą¤ हैं। ą¤œą¤¬ą¤•ि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी ą¤—ą¤ˆ है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाą¤। 

'A tribal lifeline': Health rights group asks Gujarat governor to halt Vyara govt hospital privatization

By A Representative  In a strong appeal to the Governor of Gujarat, the National Health Rights Alliance (NHRA)—an initiative of the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)—has urged the state to halt the ongoing move to privatize the Vyara Government Hospital and Medical College in Tapi district. 

Old bias, new excuses: How western media misrepresents India’s anti-terror strikes

By Gajanan Khergamker  The recent Indian military strikes on Pakistan, dubbed Operation Sindoor, have sparked a storm of international media coverage. Several prominent outlets have portrayed India as the aggressor in the escalating conflict, raising concerns over biased reporting. This commentary critiques coverage by foreign media outlets such as The New York Times , Reuters, BBC, and CNN, which have often been accused of framing India’s actions as escalatory while downplaying or omitting critical context regarding Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism. By examining historical patterns and current geopolitical dynamics, this analysis highlights the recurring selective framing, omission of evidence, and a tendency to favor narratives aligned with Western geopolitical interests over factual nuance.

जैविक जीवित संसाधनों व प्रकृति पर निर्भर मजदूरों की व्यापक आर्ऄिक सुरक्षा कैसे हो?

- राज कुमार सिन्हा*  भारत में  60 करोą„œ से अधिक लोग भूमि, जल, जंगल और समुद्र जैसे प्राकृतिक स्रोतों पर निर्भर हैं । देश में 14.6 करोą„œ छोटे और सीमांत किसान, 14.4 करोą„œ खेतिहर मजदूर ( ą¤¬ą„œी संख्या में दलित हैं), 27.5 करोą„œ वन निवासी, 2.8 करोą„œ मछुआरे, 1.3 करोą„œ पशुपालक और 1.7 करोऔ़ कारीगर हैं जो सीधे तौर पर  प्रकृति के साऄ और प्रकृति के भरोसे काम कर रहे हैं । लगभग 6 करोą„œ मौसमी मजदूर हैं जो काम के सिलसिले में लगातार अपने गांव से बाहर जाते हैं और लौटते हैं। प्रकृति निर्भर समुदायों की आर्ऄिक गतिविधियां जो ą¤¬ą„œे पैमाने पर जीवन निर्वाह और छोटी आय के लिą¤ है। वर्तमान आर्ऄिक नीतियों के कारण, जो कॉर्पोरेट्स और ą¤¬ą„œे व्यवसायों का समर्ऄन करती है, प्रकृति निर्भर समुदाय के लिą¤ अव्यवहारिक होती जा रही है। 

Censor Board's bullying delays 'Phule': A blow to India's democratic spirit

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  A film based on the life and legacy of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule was expected to release today. Instead, its release has been pushed to the last week of April. The reason? Protests by self-proclaimed guardians of caste pride—certain Brahmin groups—and forced edits demanded by a thoroughly discredited Censor Board.

CASR urges immediate halt to Operation Kagaar, calls for peace talks with Maoists

By A Representative   The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a collective of over 40 civil society organizations, has issued a press statement demanding an immediate end to "Operation Kagaar" and alleged state-led killings of Maoist rebels and indigenous people in central India. The group also called on the central government to create a conducive environment for initiating peace talks with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Naveen Gautam creates history, becomes first Dalit youth to moderate session at UN

By A Representative  In a historic moment for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent, Mr. Naveen Gautam of the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) became the first Dalit youth to moderate a session at any United Nations forum.

Kashmiriyat lives: Beyond the prime-time lies

By Rimmi Vaghela  I am Rimmi from Ahmedabad. I contemplated this blog on April 27, 2025 in Jammu, when my plans of revisiting the paradise called Kashmir were shattered—not by fear, but by circumstances and sorrow. I decided to share my story with a heavy heart, hoping it reaches those who still believe in the warmth of humanity over the divisive noise of prime-time media.

Choice of the word 'Sindoor' in India's anti-terror operation: Symbolic feminism or patriarchal strategy?

By Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava*  In the aftermath of a war and subsequent ceasefire in 2025, Operation Sindoor has emerged as a focal point of national discourse, not only for its military objectives but also for its symbolic framing. The operation, named after a traditional marker of Hindu marital identity, and the prominent roles of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force in its media briefings, have been widely celebrated as a step toward gender inclusivity. 

In the fury of war, humanity succumbs to the illusion of nationalism

By Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava*    On May 7, Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti—also known as Rabindra Jayanti or Poncheeshe Boishakh in Kolkata—we celebrated the birth anniversary of the renowned poet, writer, philosopher, reformer, and Nobel laureate. On this occasion, I draw attention to Tagore’s timeless quotes, which resonate profoundly today, perhaps more than ever, as we live in a time when the ruling government has pushed the nation toward war.