Goa-based legal experts as well as greens see red as the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 has come into force with effect from August 14, pointing out the amendment can cause devastation to the State’s forest resources in the absence of proper checks and balances.
OBJECTION
In fact, when the Centre proposed the Amendment Bill earlier this year in Parliament, greens from Goa under the banner of Federation of Rainbow Warriors and environmentalists had lodged their strong objections to the proposed amendment, saying it threatens the conservation of the forests and environment, the fundamental rights of the people, the socio-economic development of the country and the survival of the future generations.
The Federation of Rainbow Warriors said the Forest Conservation Act is presently applied to all lands with forestry vegetation having 0.1 canopy density and 1 hectare area.
CONSEQUENCE
“The proposed amendment will remove all protection to forests not declared, notified or recorded in government records presently, causing disastrous scale of deforestation,” asserted Federation general Secretary Abhijit Prabhudesai.
He warned: “Forest Survey of India’s latest report, India State of Forest Report 2021, states that while 5,16,630 sq km of the forests of India are within Recorded Forest Areas, 1,97,159 sq km of forests lie outside Recorded Forest Areas. This implies that out of a total of 7,13,789 sq km of forests of India identified by FSI, 1,97,159 sq km of forests (27.62% of our forests) will lose all protection if this amendment is permitted.”
As far as Goa is concerned, Abhijit pointed out that as per India State of Forest Report 2021, 1,220 sq km of forests are protected as a part of the 1,271 sq km of recorded forests as per government records, while 1,024 sq km of forests are outside recorded forests.
“This implies that almost half of Goa’s forests will lose protection if this amendment is permitted. This will totally devastate the forests, wildlife, biodiversity, environment, water resources, soil generation and fertility, sustainable economies, local communities, culture and society of Goa, under pressure from profit driven, speculative land use changes for unsustainable real estate speculation, mining, polluting industries, large tourism projects and related infrastructure,” he said.
SUGGESTION
Abhijit pointed out that the NGO had lodged its strong objections to the Amendment Bill and had instead asked the Centre to come out with a new Bill that must completely prohibit diversion or non-forest use of natural forests and clearing of naturally growing trees and saplings, at least until the current collapse of biodiversity and other threats are overcome.
“The Bill ought to have included provisions for immediate afforestation and reforestation programs with natural forests (forestry species only) that meet the requirements of carbon sink, biodiversity, ecology and other services to successfully overcome the threats of climate change, biodiversity collapse and resource depletion. The natural regeneration of forestry species must be facilitated, encouraged and protected if we have to survive the threats,” he added.
