Compensatory afforestation threatens natural forests: Affidavits filed in SC

SC ON FEBRUARY 3 MANDATED COMPENSATORY AFFORESTATION FOR ANY FOREST LAND REDUCTION

- Jayashree Nandi

Affidavits filed in the Supreme Court have flagged concerns over a twofold destruction of the country’s natural forests if forest lands are used for compensatory afforestation as prescribed by the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Rules 2023.

The affidavit, filed by experts and former forest officials, was filed as a status report after the top court on February 3 directed that the government refrain from taking steps that lead to reduction of forests “unless a compensatory land is provided” for afforestation.

“...it is respectfully submitted that the analysis of the minutes of the FAC meeting and those held by the REC, Ranchi after the order of 03.02.2025, as summarised above, clearly show that degraded notified forest lands and unclassed forest lands are continued to be offered for compensatory afforestation,” the petitioners said.

The petitioners were referring to the minutes of FAC meetings held after the February 3 order, which showed that 603.8314 ha of forest land was approved for diversion, of which 140.7977 ha is in unclassed forests and 2.2567 ha in degraded forests.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the petition against the validity of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023 once the courts reopen after summer vacation.

Ahead of the hearing, petitioners filed an affidavit in April flagging various instances of compensatory afforestation was permitted by the Centre on notified degraded forests, degraded revenue forests, and other unclassed forests, even though the lands are statutorily protected under the TN Godavarman judgment of December 12, 1996.