MARGAO
The Rainbow Warriors has condemned the Amendments to forest laws proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, saying this is an attempt to dilute the existing protection of forests and open up the forests of India to accelerated destruction.
General secretary Abhijit Prabhudesai said Rainbow Warriors have written to MOEF&CC demanding that these dilutions be rejected and that the protection of forests be enhanced instead, in view of the growing challenges of climate change; deforestation for infrastructure, mining and real estate; collapse of biodiversity and the existential threats to mankind as a consequence.
“The outrageous proposal includes dilution of forest laws for linear projects like highways and railways, allowing constructions in private forests et al. These amendments will not just threaten the forest of the rest of India, but will also have deadly impact on the forests of Goa, which are under grave threat due to infrastructure projects for coal transportation, mining and real estate. Goa’s water resources, environmental stability and local economies and communities are totally dependent on the forests within the State; hence it is critical for Goa that these proposed amendments are discarded and the law is strengthened to prevent diversion of forests for corporate greed”, he said.
The NGO has demanded that both the Union and Goa Governments should stop spreading the ‘development v/s environment’ propaganda and pitting people against forests, and should instead accept the truth that our tribal and forest dwelling communities are the owners and defenders of forests, and that environment and forests are the foundation of all sustainable economies.
“However, by refusing to implement the community ownership of forests envisaged under the Forest Rights Act, Goa Government exposes its intentions to keep trying to alienate the indigenous communities from their forests”, he added.
Rainbow Warriors have also submitted various proposals to MEF&CC for strengthening the forest protection laws, while demanding that that the amendments must come from the local communities and not corporates, and that the changes must include mandatory Gram Sabha approvals for any forest diversion in the future.
