The devastating floods across North India that we’ve just witnessed were, in part, man-made! We’ve blasted tunnels through mountains and encroached on riverbanks to build hotels. The result? Every year, from June to August, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have become 'no-go' zones for tourists. Now, the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, wants to change the very definition of a forest, so more trees can be felled in service of a perverse understanding of development. Sign this petition to save India’s green cover. 

The Government of India is planning to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980. The proposed amendments will be detrimental to India's forests, and dilute the safeguards meant to protect our forests. For example, the proposed Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023 will weaken the Supreme Court of India 1996 ruling of Godavarman Case in which the Honourable Court extended the protection to even unclassified forests or land parcels that fit the dictionary definition of forests. The proposed amendments would do away with this extended protection, and would thus only protect land that is classified as 'forests' under government records, which could mean that even natural ranges such as the Aravallis could be diverted for commercial use.

In another provision the proposed bill is exempting forest clearance for projects such as highways and hydel power plants in geographically sensitive areas (within 100 km of international border line). Further, no protection is provided to deemed forest, and tourism will be allowed in the above said forest which will negatively impact the sustainability of forest. 

Here it should be noted that the total forest and tree cover of India is 80.9 million hectare which is 24.62 percent of the geographical area of the country. This is far from the national targeted area of 33%. Moreover, India is vulnerable to climatic changes this can be evident from the recent catastrophic flooding of Indian Himalayan Rivers resulting in widespread landslides washing away roads, bridges and rendering thousands of people homeless. This has caused loss of man and material and crippled north Indian States.  

Many Indian forests come under Biodiversity Hotspots, E.g. Western Ghats and Himalayas. These forests are rich in biodiversity and critical for maintaining the forest ecosystem. Moreover, these forests are world natural heritage and should be protected at any cost.

 If the proposed amendment bill is passed, around 197,159 sq.km of India's forest will lose protection. For example, the Aravalli Forest known to filter polluted air of Delhi NCR will be severely impacted if the proposed amendment is passed in the parliament. 

Therefore, I urge the Environment Minister of India to not table The Forest Conservation Amendment Bill 2023 in the parliament as this bill is detrimental for Indian forests.

Sign my petition to ask Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India to not table this bill in the parliament. 

Dr. Virat Jolli

New Delhi, India

Image credits: THE HINDU