Draft National Forest Policy, 2018

Why in news?

Tribal Rights activists have criticised the recently (March 2018) released Draft National Forest Policy on the grounds that it violates tribal rights over forest lands

Need for New Policy        

Issues with National forest Policy, 1988

1. Use of obsolete concepts:

• The principal aim of National Forest Policy, 1988 uses the concepts of ecological balance and environmental sustainability- both of these concepts are discarded. The term “ecological balance” originated as ‘the balance of nature’ in ancient Greece and was extensively used through the middle Ages. However, with a better understanding of the functioning of natural systems, the concept was completely rejected by early 20^th century.  Similarly, the concept of ‘environmental stability’ is questionable because it is evident that natural processes are never stable or stagnant but are always in the process of change and succession.

2. Definitional issue: Absence of official definition for the term ‘forest’
3. The third objective states that soil erosion and denudation of catchment areas of rivers, lakes and reservoirs should be checked. However, it does not suggest how this is to be done and why this point fits in, in the policy.
4. The National Forest policy suggests to resolve, protect and improve the environment and forests of the country by initiating key programs including forest protection and afforestation, Joint Forest Management, forest fire control measures, treatment of drought prone areas, strengthening of infrastructure, wildlife conservation, pollution control measures and implementation of environment law. However, much of these activities are not well integrated.

International commitments:

India has been participating in several international summits and conventions on protection of forests, wildlife and environment and stands committed to the goals set in there In view of these it has become necessary to incorporate these goals and objectives in the National Forest Policy and thus it necessitates revamping of the forest policy

Climate Change:

Impacts of climate change, human-wildlife conflict, intensifying water crisis, increasing air and water pollution and deteriorating environment have been the issues of serious concern and highlights the need of new policy for forest management

Draft National Forest Policy, 2018:

Objective:

To safeguard the ecological and livelihood security of people, of present and future generations, based on sustainable management of the forests for the flow of ecosystem services.

Key Provisions of the National Forest Policy (NFP), 2018 are:

1. Target:

• Target of 33% of India’s geographical area under forest and tree cover and in the hills and mountainous regions

2. Protection of forest:

• Restrict schemes and projects which interfere with forests
• Stabilize ecologically sensitive catchment areas with suitable soil and water conservation measures, and also by planting suitable trees and grass like bamboo.

3. Funds:

• Compensatory Afforestation Fund will be a major source of funds for taking up afforestation and rehabilitation works
• Funds from other national sectors like rural development, tribal affairs, national highways, railways, coal, mines, power, etc., will be taken for appropriate implementation of linking greening with infrastructure and other development activities.

4. Bodies to be established

• Establishment of two national-level bodies, National Community Forest Management (CFM) Mission and National Board of Forestry (NBF)

5. Addressing threats to forests:

• Threats to Forests due to encroachments, illegal tree fellings, forests fires, invasive weeds, grazing, etc. will be addressed within the framework of the approved Working Plan/Management Plan and also by ensuring community participation in forest management.

6. PPP Model:

• Development of Public-private participation models for undertaking afforestation and reforestation activities in degraded forest areas and forest areas available with forest development corporations and outside forests.

7. Harmonization with other laws:

• Achieve harmonization between policies and laws like Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006.

8. Community Forest Management:

• Establish National Community Forest Management (CFM) Mission.
• The draft states that all efforts to ensure synergy between Gram Sabha & JFMC (Joint Forest Management Committee) will be taken up in order to ensure successful community participation in forest management.

9. Trees outside Forests:

• Promotion of trees outside forests and urban greens taken up in “mission mode”

10. Industry- Production forestry:

• The draft stresses the need to stimulate growth in the forest based industry sector. It encourages forest corporations and industrial units to step up growing of industrial plantations.

11. Forest Fire:

• Safeguard ecosystems from forest fires, map the vulnerable areas and develop and strengthen early warning systems and methods to control fire, based on remote sensing technology and community participation.

12. Climate Change

• Calls for integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in forest management through the mechanism of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus) so that the impacts of the climate change is minimised
• Climate change concerns will be factored in all the forest and wildlife areas working/management plans and Community Ecosystem Management Plans.

13. Human animal Conflict:

• Identify and protection of wildlife rich areas and corridors outside protected areas for ensuring ecological and genetic continuity.
• Short-term and long-term actions to tackle rising human-wildlife conflict.
• Short-term actions include quick response, dedicated teams of well equipped and trained personnel, mobility, strong interface with health and veterinary services, rescue centres, objective and speedy assessment of damage and quick payment of relief to the victims.
• Long term actions include monitoring and management of population of wildlife.

14. Forest Certification:

• Adoption of appropriate certification regimes will be encouraged which will help enhance value of forest product harvested sustainably.

15. National Forest Ecosystem Management Information system:

• A national forest ecosystems management information system will be developed and made operational using the latest information and communication technology.

Issues with the Bill:

1. According to critics, the proposed Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for afforestation on degraded land has the potential risk of being misused by private players for commercial interests.
2. The draft policy has been further criticized on the grounds that it dilutes the Forests Rights Act (FRA). According to critics, public private partnership models for afforestation and agro forestry detailed in the policy will open up the areas over which tribals and forest dwellers have legal rights under FRA. NFP 1988 bans the private sector from growing, harvesting or selling trees in state-owned natural forests. However, the draft policy allows such activity under the PPP model. It thus dilutes FRA which lays down those traditional lands of the Adivasis and other forest dwellers cannot be used for any purpose without their consent.

• Critics further argue that the policy dilutes the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution and Panchayat Raj (Extension) Act in Scheduled Areas which are meant to safeguard the interests of the tribal people.

3. Further, the draft has also drawn criticism for launching a parallel forest managing committee – National Community Forest Management. Critics are of the opinion that the parallel management goes against the spirit of Forest Rights Act.
4. The draft allows planting of “commercially important species like poplar and eucalyptus” which are water-demanding species with deep root systems. Critics are of the opinion that plantation of such species to meet afforestation targets and timber requirements will damage groundwater recharge.
5. According to social activists, the draft policy fails to discuss gender integration and women’s issues in the management of forests, trees, agro forestry and afforestation.
6. Alike NFP 1988, the new draft policy also lacks a legal definition of the term forest
7. The draft forest policy has also been criticized as it does not address the issue of forest fragmentation.

Way Ahead:

1. A proper official definition of forests needs to be constituted. Unless this major definitional issue is addressed, the forest policy may not achieve its overall goal and objective of safeguarding the ecological and livelihood security of people, of the present and future generations
2. Ecologists and conservationists need to be consulted before taking up the proposal of planting commercially viable plants and trees as opposed to a biodiversity-rich natural forest.
3. Draft policy should be reviewed to make necessary changes so as to acknowledge and protect the rights of tribal forest communities.
4. Necessary steps should be taken so that the PPP model is not used for vested commercial interests and does not lead to fraudulent practices
5. Further, the draft policy should be made gender-sensitive, acknowledging the role of women in management of forests