Forest Conservation (Rules), 2022

Forest Conservation (Rules), 2022

News: Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022.

What are the Provisions of Forest Conservation (Rules), 2022?

Formation of Committees - It constituted an Advisory Committee, a regional empowered committee at each of the integrated regional offices and a screening committee at State/Union Territory (UT) government-level.

Time Frame – A fixed time for quicker review of each project. For example, The Project Screening Committee will meet at least twice every month and will advise the state governments on projects in a time bound manner.

Regional Empowered Committee - It will examine all the linear projects (e.g. roads, highways, etc) involving land up to 40 hectares and the use of forest land up to 0.7 canopy density.

Compensatory Allowance - If the state already has over two-thirds area under green cover or over one- third area under forest cover, then CA could be taken in other states/UTs where the cover is less than 20%.
• States are given the responsibility of settling forest rights of forest dwellers (Forest Rights Act, 2006) and allowing diversion of forest land.

Other Initiatives for Forest Conservation:

Initiatives
• National Afforestation Programme
• Indian Forest Policy Act, 1952
• Forest Conservation Act, 1980
• National Forest Policy, 1988
• of 1972, EPA of 1986, Biodiversity Act of 2002
• Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

More about Forests in India:
• According to India State of Forest Report, 2021, the Total Forest and Tree cover is now 7,13,789 square kilometres, 21.71% of the country’s geographical area, an increase from 21.67% in 2019.
• Forest Cover (Area-wise): Madhya Pradesh> Arunachal Pradesh> Chhattisgarh> Odisha> Maharashtra.
• The forests are categorized into Reserve Forests > Protected Forests > Village Forests

Constitutional Provisions protecting Forests:
• Through the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 Forests and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds were transferred from State to Concurrent List.
• Article 48 A in the DPSP, mandates that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution states that it shall be the Fundamental Duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests and Wildlife.