Haryana's 'dictionary' definition of forest is debatable

HARYANA DEFINES FOREST AS PER 'DICTIONARY' MEANING; ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARGUE ARAVALLI FORESTS WILL BE EXPOSED

- HARPREET BAJWA @Chandigarh

The Haryana government's decision to go by the 'dictionary meaning' of forests has thrown open the doors to wide-ranging debates. On March 4, the Supreme Court directed all states and union territories to define what constitutes a 'forest' and commence surveys to identify forest areas in their respective jurisdictions. The order came while hearing a clutch of writ petitions that challenged the Central government's amendments to Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

On August 18, a gazette notification by the Haryana Environment, Forest and Wildlife department stated: "A patch of land shall be deemed to be 'forest as per dictionary meaning' if it fulfils following conditions: A minimum area of five hectares land parcels, if it is in isolation, and a minimum area of two hectares, if it is in contiguity with the government notified forests and it has a canopy density of 0.4 (40 per cent) or more."

The definition explicitly excludes 'all linear, compact, agro-forestry plantations and orchards situated outside the government notified forests from the scope of forest.