Environment & Ecology·Environmental Laws
Deforestation — Environmental Laws
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Version 1Updated 9 Mar 2026
| Entry | Year | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 | 2023 | Amended the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. Key changes include restricting the Act's applicability to only those lands recorded as 'forest' in government records on or after 25th October 1980, and to areas notified as 'forest' under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. It also exempts certain categories of land from the Act's purview, such as forest land along railway lines or public roads up to a certain width, and land for security-related infrastructure within 100 km of international borders. | Aimed at streamlining development projects and national security infrastructure by reducing the scope of forest land requiring central clearance. Critics argue it could dilute forest protection, particularly for 'deemed forests' and private forest patches, potentially increasing deforestation in sensitive border regions and facilitating infrastructure projects at the cost of ecological integrity. The Supreme Court has intervened to ensure the broader definition of 'forest' from the Godavarman judgment is upheld. |
| National Forest Policy, 2018 (Draft) | 2018 | Proposed to replace the National Forest Policy, 1988. It aimed to address new challenges like climate change, human-wildlife conflict, and the need for participatory forest management. Key proposals included increasing forest cover to one-third of the total land area, promoting sustainable forest management, and enhancing the productivity of forest plantations. | The draft policy faced criticism for its emphasis on commercial forestry and private sector involvement, with concerns that it might dilute the focus on community rights and conservation. It was also criticized for potentially opening up forests for industrial exploitation and for not adequately addressing the rights of forest-dwelling communities as enshrined in the FRA 2006. The policy has not been finalized, indicating ongoing debate and challenges in achieving consensus on forest governance. |