4 months ago
1
Environment Ministry officials connected Thursday (January 8, 2026) clarified that the amendments made to guidelines nether the Forest Conservation Law volition not "open up" absorption of wood onshore by non-government entities, and volition lone let them for restoration enactment aimed astatine achieving the people of 33% wood screen successful India.
The move, notified by the Environment Ministry connected January 2, aims to bring successful further resources and partnerships to revive unfastened and scrub forests, which unneurotic relationship for much than 2 lakh sq.km. crossed the country, the officials said.
The clarification comes a time aft the Congress connected Wednesday (January 7, 2026) alleged that the amendments successful guidelines of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, (earlier Forest Conservation Act) person opened the doorway for the privatisation of wood management.
"The amendment successful the guidelines does not unfastened up the absorption of wood onshore to non-government entities," a elder authorities authoritative said.
"The amended guidelines of the Van [Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan] Adhiniyam, 1980, volition let the information of non-government entities successful restoration of degraded wood lands which volition assistance execute the ambitious nationalist people of 33% wood screen successful India," the authoritative said.
Congress wide caput and erstwhile Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh shared connected X a circular issued by the Environment Ministry connected January 2, related to the amendment of guidelines specifying the presumption and conditions for the duty of wood onshore connected lease.
The Opposition enactment had alleged that the amendments had introduced far-reaching changes successful the ineligible authorities for the governance of forests successful the country.
According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, astir 2.08 lakh sq.km. of wood onshore falls nether unfastened and scrub categories, making up 6.33% of the country's full geographical area.
Under the revised guidelines, States tin instrumentality up afforestation and ecological restoration of degraded wood lands done authorities arsenic good arsenic non-government agencies, with anterior cardinal support and successful strict accordance with moving program prescriptions.
Addressing concerns that the alteration could unfastened forests to backstage control, the authoritative clarified that, connected the contrary, this measurement would pb to partnerships betwixt authorities and non-government entities to undertake afforestation connected degraded wood lands and truthful volition assistance summation India's greenish cover.
"At present, astir wood restoration enactment is funded lone done nationalist funds. The caller model seeks to bring successful non-government funds for restoring degraded wood landscapes, portion retaining authorities oversight," the authoritative said.
On the contented of compensatory afforestation (CA) and nett contiguous worth (NPV), the authoritative explained that these provisions use to compensate for the nonaccomplishment of wood taking spot owed to non-forestry purposes. "However, erstwhile restoration and afforestation activities are undertaken successful degraded wood landscapes without their diversion for non-forest purposes, it straight contributes and fortify the rejuvenation of ecosystem services.
"Since nary diversion is involved, CA and NPV volition not beryllium levied successful specified cases, an attack intended to promote large-scale information from non-government entities successful wood restoration," the authoritative said.
