Anything but green

Anything but green

The draft national forest policy 2018

News:

1. The author, Ritwick Dutta, an environmental lawyer is of the opinion that even after the release of Draft National Forest Policy, the main motive for a new Forest Policy still remains unattended.

Analysis:

2. According to the existing National Forest Policy, 1998:

• The need for “most careful examination by specialists” and “costs and benefit” are mandatory before diversion of forest land for any-non-forest.
• Tropical rain/moist forests, particularly in areas like Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, should be totally safeguarded.

3. challenges which aroused in terms of forest clearances are:

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have been challenged before the National Green Tribunal by affected and concerned persons.
• Tropical moist evergreen forests have been allowed to be diverted in ecologically-sensitive locations.
• Cost-benefit analyses and “detailed examination” by specialists are being questioned.

4. In respect to the above challenges, the author is of the opinion that new draft NFP, 2018 further facilitates speedy diversion of forest land without any detailed scientific and legal scrutiny.

5. The draft also:

• Deleted the entire section on safeguards to be followed for diversion of forest land.
• Does not regard diversion as a threat at all so far as forest land is concerned.

6. Under the draft policy one has:

• no requirement of cost-benefit analysis;
• no examinations by specialists;
• no requirement of alternatives; and
• no mention of the fact that tropical moist evergreen forests as well as forests in hilly States such as Arunachal Pradesh should be “totally safeguarded”.