Private Plantations In Forests Spark Fresh Conservation Debate

The Union government has amended forest conservation rules to exempt private and government plantations in forest areas from key environmental levies, reviving a long-standing debate over the role of private industry in India’s forests. The move, aimed at boosting plantation forestry, has triggered concern among environmentalists and tribal rights groups about its ecological and social consequences.

Key Amendment To Forest Conservation Rules

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has revised consolidated guidelines under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 2023, formerly the Forest Conservation Act. The amendment allows assisted natural regeneration, afforestation and plantations by government or non-government entities to be classified as “forestry activities”. As a result, such projects are exempt from paying Net Present Value and undertaking compensatory afforestation, obligations traditionally imposed when forest land is diverted.

What Net Present Value And Compensatory Afforestation Mean

Net Present Value is a one-time charge calculated to reflect the economic worth of ecosystem services lost due to forest diversion, including biodiversity, water regulation and carbon sequestration. Compensatory afforestation requires the creation of new forest cover elsewhere to offset diverted land. By treating plantations as forestry activity, the amended rules remove both requirements, significantly lowering costs for private participation in forest land use.

Implementation Framework And State Discretion

Under the revised provisions, plantations must be undertaken with state government approval, aligned with working or management plans and supervised by state forest departments. States have been given discretion to design utilisation frameworks and revenue-sharing models on a case-by-case basis. Projects must be backed by a Detailed Project Report specifying area, species selection, plantation activities and sustainable harvest levels, approved by a competent authority.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Net Present Value is levied for diversion of forest land to compensate ecosystem service loss.
• Compensatory afforestation is mandatory under forest diversion norms.
• The Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 2023 replaced the Forest Conservation Act.
• State governments supervise plantation projects under approved working plans.

Concerns Over Ecology And Community Rights

Former forest officials warn that waiving NPV and compensatory afforestation could reduce conservation funding and weaken safeguards. Environmentalists fear large-scale commercial plantations may encourage monocultures, erode biodiversity and shrink village commons. Tribal rights groups stress that many degraded forest lands are occupied by forest-dwelling communities and caution that leasing without proper recognition under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 could restrict access to minor forest produce, grazing and livelihoods.