Rules for pvt afforestation work on forest land eased

The Union environment ministry has cleared the way for private and government entities to lease forest land for afforestation and timber projects without paying mandatory environmental compensation fees, markinga significant shift in India’s forest conservation policy.

- Jayashree Nandi

Inaletter to state governments dated January 2, the ministry stated that afforestation and silvicultural activities— the practice of controlling forest growth and quality — undertaken under approved state plans will now be classified as “forestry activities.”

Because of this new classification, these projects will be exempt from compensatory afforestation requirements and net present value fees. These are significant financial mandates typically charged to developers to offset the loss of forest land and ecosystem services.

‘The directiveamends sub-paragraph 14 of paragraph 7.2 of the guidelines notified on November 29, 2023. Under those prior rules, commercial plantations of low rotation or medicinal plants on forest land were designated as “non-forestry activities.” As such, they required specific central government approval based on the merits of each case, as well as the full payment of environmental compensation fees.

‘The new amendment, however, states that as long as the activities follow a detailed project report (DPR) and operate under the supervision of the state forest department, the usual penalties for diverting forest land “shall not be applicable.”