Compensatory Afforestation Efforts Address Forest Land Diversion Impacts

New Delhi:  In response to concerns over the diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes, the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, provided insights into the Compensatory Afforestation (CA) measures undertaken in accordance with the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

Compensatory Afforestation plantations are established as a compensation mechanism for the loss of forest and ecosystem services resulting from the diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes. Under these provisions, sites selected for compensatory afforestation are often refractory and degraded, requiring a significant period to evolve into forest-like vegetation. Continuous efforts are made to ensure the success of such plantations, especially in cases where establishment is not immediate.

Notably, no specific methodology for demarcating land banks for afforestation has been outlined by the Ministry. Given that ‘land’ falls under the jurisdiction of the State Government, the identification and demarcation of land for afforestation are conducted by the States/UTs based on their respective rules and guidelines.

Addressing concerns about the timeline for plantation establishment, Minister Choubey highlighted that the details of land banks created or proposed for Compensatory Afforestation are maintained at the state/UT level, rather than at the central Ministry level. This decentralized approach ensures that the land identification and afforestation efforts align with the unique ecological and administrative considerations of each region.

The Compensatory Afforestation measures, guided by the Forest (Conservation) Act, aim to strike a balance between developmental needs and environmental conservation. The ongoing efforts underscore the commitment to mitigating the ecological impact of forest land diversion, promoting sustainable afforestation practices, and safeguarding the country’s rich biodiversity.