Forest Conservation Laws
Forest & Wildlife · वन संरक्षण कानून · 17 facts
Forest Conservation Act 1980 (FCA): Requires prior Central Government approval before diverting forest land for non-forest purposes; ensured central oversight.
Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam 2023: Replaced FCA 1980; amended rules; exempts certain areas from prior approval (security projects near borders, railway, roads).
Indian Forest Act 1927 (British era): Classifies forests into Reserved Forest (strictest control), Protected Forest, Village Forest; still in force in many states.
Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA): Recognizes forest rights of tribal and traditional forest dwellers; individual rights (up to 4 hectares) and community forest rights.
CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority): 2016 Act; manages Rs 66,000+ crore fund collected when forest land diverted; states use for afforestation.
Net Present Value (NPV) compensation: When forest land diverted for non-forest use, diverter pays NPV of forest based on type; amount credited to CAMPA.
REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation): UN-backed mechanism; India participates; provides financial incentives for maintaining forest cover.
Green India Mission (GIM): Under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC); aims to increase forest/tree cover by 5 million hectares; improve quality of 5 million more.
India's forest cover (FSI 2021): 21.71% of geographical area (713,789 sq km); tree cover 2.91% additional; total forest+tree cover 24.62%.
FSI (Forest Survey of India): Based in Dehradun; under MoEFCC; publishes State of Forest Report every 2 years; uses satellite imagery and ground surveys.
Three forest categories by FSI: Very Dense Forest (>70% canopy), Moderately Dense (40-70%), Open Forest (10-40%).
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act = Forest Rights Act 2006; Gram Sabha verifies claims.
Joint Forest Management (JFM): Government and local communities jointly manage forests; started 1990; Village Forest Protection Committees (VFPCs).
Agroforestry Policy 2014: Integrates trees in farmlands; National Agroforestry Policy promotes trees on farms; reduces pressure on forests.
India's biodiversity target: Achieve 33% forest cover (currently 21.71%); this requires planting trees on 12% more land — enormous challenge.
Carbon sequestration by Indian forests: India's forests and trees store 7100 million tonnes of carbon; contribute to climate change mitigation.
MoEFCC: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; apex body for environment and forest management in India; oversees WPA, FCA, EPA, EIA.