Concern over forest policy

The Campaign for Survival and Dignity, a national platform of tribal
and forest dwellers organisations, has expressed concern over the
Union government's recent decision to spend huge sums of money
collected in the name of "compensatory afforestation." In a statement
issued here on Thursday, the Campaign said such a policy would
accelerate deforestation and result in destruction of wildlife. It
would institutionalise a system that encouraged use of forests on
payment. It would also displace more tribal people and forest
dwellers. When forests were cleared for changing land use, the locals
were neither informed nor consulted. This would also be the case if
funds were allocated for compensatory plantations, the statement said.
"In both the cases — where forests are destroyed and where
compensatory forests are developed — the people lose their land and
livelihoods." The Campaign said the policy would increase violations
of the Forest Rights Act through illegal eviction of cultivators, as
the Forest Department would rush to access the huge funds coming in
from plantations. Monoculture tree plantation would also cause
environmental damage and biodiversity threats. This would also deny
the State governments and local bodies their rightful share of the
money, the statement said. "A crucial opportunity to make India's
forest management system more environmentally sensitive, transparent,
democratic, and accountable has now been lost."
"Back door deals"
The Campaign said the Ministry had acted in a blatantly
unconstitutional manner, ignoring both Parliament and the State
governments and proceeding through back door deals to ensure easy
access and continued control over the enormous funds. This would only
fuel more deprivation, conflicts and violence in the forest areas,
while accelerating the loss of some of the country's precious
resources, the statement said.

The Hindu, July 17