PANAJI
Forest boundaries in Goa are set to undergo a comprehensive overhaul, with the Union Government’s Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) proposing a nationwide exercise to digitise geo-reference and formally re-notify forest limits in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions. The exercise is expected to help notify around 1,041 sq kms of forest, recorded outside forest area as per Forest Survey of India (FSI) report.
The move is part of a centrally driven plan to create a state-wide, authoritative forest boundary dataset using DGPS/CORS-based surveys and a GIS-enabled Forest Boundary Decision Support System (FB-DSS). The initiative aims to replace legacy forest maps-many of which lack precise geodetic coordinates-with accurate, satellite-based and field-validated digital records. The decision was taken during a meeting held in December, last year.
Officer said that Goa has long grappled with disputes involving forest, revenue and private land, alleged encroachments, and land-use changes and long pending forest right claim settlements. As per the FSI report 2024, the total forest cover of Goa stands at 2,265.7 sq kms.
The proposed exercise is expected to digitise and integrate forest block maps, notifications and pillar registers, undertake joint Forest-Revenue-Panchayat field verification, map boundaries and encroachments using DGPS technology with sub-metre accuracy, apply the “metes and bounds” principle to legally define forest perimeters and accordingly re-notify the boundaries.
The background note circulated by CAMPA flags persistent issues across States and Union Territories, including misidentification of forest areas, weak enforcement of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and difficulties in settling rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. It also highlights overlaps and disputes between Forest, Revenue and Tribal departments.
The initiative stems from the Supreme Court’s 2011 judgment in the Lafarge Umiam case, which mandated the creation and periodic updating of a GIS-based decision support database for forest boundaries, protected areas, wildlife corridors and diversion records.
According to the minutes of the meeting, CAMPA proposes that the project be funded under State/UT CAMPA funds over a three-year period. It also envisages integration into a National Digital Forest Boundary Repository.
As per the decision, the draft maps will be displayed at each panchayat as part of the legal review process, allowing for objections and multi-level dispute resolution before final notification. Certified geo-coordinates would form the basis of re-notification proposals.
Officials say the exercise could end decades of ambiguity around Goa’s forest estate particularly when it comes to settling Forest Right claims, which will help in notifying the boundaries of the protected areas that are Wildlife Sanctuaries and National park- the process which is long overdue.
