Ministry Defines Terms for Using Degraded Forest Land in Compensatory Afforestation

The Union Environment Ministry has issued fresh guidelines to states and Union Territories for utilizing degraded forest lands for compensatory afforestation (CA). This directive comes after the ministry’s recent notifications on the Green Credit Programme (August 29, 2025) and the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules, 2025 (August 31, 2025), which significantly amend the Forest Conservation Rules, 2023.

What is Compensatory Afforestation?

Compensatory afforestation is the legal requirement for industries and infrastructure projects that divert forest land for development. To balance ecological loss:

  • Projects must plant trees over an equivalent area of non-forest land.

  • If non-forest land is unavailable, they must afforest double the area of degraded forest land.

This practice ensures that industrial development is aligned with ecological restoration and India’s carbon neutrality goals.

Green Credits and Their Role

Under the revised Green Credit Programme, organizations and individuals undertaking eco-positive actions like tree plantation are rewarded with green credits.

  • These credits are tradable on a domestic market platform.

  • They serve as incentives to encourage restoration of degraded forest areas.

Why Degraded Forests?

The Environment Ministry emphasized that degraded forests provide a practical solution given India’s shortage of available non-forest land. According to the Forest Survey of India:

  • 348,789 sq. km of India’s geographical area (10.61%) is under open and scrub forest category.

  • Between 2011–2021, about 40,709 sq. km of very dense and medium dense forests degraded to open forests.

  • Another 5,573 sq. km degraded further to scrub category.

This demonstrates an urgent need for restoration of degraded forests, aligning with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to create a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030.

Conditions for Using Degraded Forest Land

The ministry’s letter laid down clear criteria for degraded forests to qualify for compensatory afforestation:

  • Minimum size: 5 hectares.

  • Restoration period: Afforested for at least five years.

  • Canopy density: At least 40% after restoration.

  • Species mix: Indigenous species must be planted, depending on site suitability.

  • Green Credits: Lands must be awarded credits under the Green Credit Programme.

  • Scale of restoration: User agencies must restore a cumulative minimum of 25 hectares.

Such restored degraded forests may then be exchanged in favor of the Green Credit Applicant (GCA) to meet CA obligations.

Legal and Policy Debate

The use of degraded and unclassed forests for compensatory afforestation has sparked legal disputes.

  • Petitioners, including retired forest officials, have argued that such practices violate the TN Godavarman judgement (1996), which recognized all recorded forests as protected.

  • The Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022 however, already allow CA in degraded and unclassed forests due to land scarcity.

  • The issue is under judicial scrutiny in the Supreme Court, reflecting tension between development needs and forest conservation.

Special Provisions for Mining and Infrastructure

For critical projects, including:

  • Central agencies and CPSUs

  • Captive coal blocks of state PSUs

  • Transmission line projects

  • Critical and strategic minerals (under Mines and Minerals Act, 1957, and Atomic Energy Act, 1962)

The guidelines allow compensatory afforestation through exchange of degraded forests restored under the Green Credit Programme, but with a stricter ratio: twice the restored forest area for each area diverted.

Link to National Forest Policy Goals

The new framework aligns with the National Forest Policy, which aims to bring 33% of India’s geographical area under forest and tree cover. Strategies include:

  • Large-scale, need-based afforestation.

  • Emphasis on fuelwood and fodder plantations.

  • Restoring degraded and denuded lands.

This policy aims to balance ecological security with India’s ambitious Net Zero Emissions target by 2070.

Conclusion

The Environment Ministry’s guidelines mark a crucial step in integrating industry, conservation, and climate goals. By defining terms for degraded forests, the government seeks to address both land scarcity for afforestation and the need to restore India’s vast degraded forest cover. However, legal challenges, especially concerning the Godavarman precedent, highlight the complexity of balancing ecological preservation with developmental imperatives.


Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts

Father of RG Kar Victim Loses Faith in Legal System Amid Allegations of CBI Inconsistencies

Image
  A Father’s Frustration with the System The father of the 31-year-old postgraduate doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College on August 9, 2024, has publicly expressed his deep disillusionment with the Indian legal system. In a powerful and emotional statement, he told ANI that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has presented contradictory reports in two different courts—the Calcutta High Court and Sealdah District Court. “This is not just a failure of investigation—this is a betrayal. Even Supreme Court judges could not believe the differences in what the CBI is saying. We had faith in the agency, but now, we are losing all hope,” he stated. Allegations of Withheld Evidence The father alleged that the CBI is deliberately withholding key details about the case, despite reportedly knowing who the perpetrators are. He believes the answers lie in his daughter’s phone, which the CBI claims it does not possess—an assertion he disputes. According t...
Read more

Bill Gates Applauds India's 'Namo Drone Didi' Program: A Game-Changer in Rural Empowerment and Agri-Tech

Image
Microsoft Founder Bill Gates Lauds India’s Namo Drone Didi Program In a strong endorsement of India’s evolving rural development model, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has praised the Namo Drone Didi initiative, launched in 2023 by the Government of India. The program empowers rural women by training them to operate drones for agricultural purposes, thereby boosting productivity, reducing manual labor, and enhancing socio-economic inclusion. Gates shared a detailed video and blog highlighting his interaction with three "Drone Didis" from Bihar— Sangita Devi , Sumintra Devi , and Kajol Kumari —during his visit to Delhi last month. He applauded the initiative's early success and expressed optimism about its future scalability. What is the Namo Drone Didi Program? Launched under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Namo Drone Didi scheme is part of a broader strategy to promote women-led development and precision agriculture . It aims to provide 15,000 dro...
Read more

Flight Operations Disrupted Amid India-Pakistan Tensions: Air India and IndiGo Cancel Multiple Flights on May 13, 2025

Image
🔹 Flight Cancellations Announced by Air India On Tuesday, May 13, 2025 , Air India officially announced the cancellation of two-way flight operations to and from the following eight airports : Jammu Leh Jodhpur Amritsar Bhuj Jamnagar Chandigarh Rajkot The airline posted a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating: "In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May." Air India further assured passengers that they are closely monitoring the situation and will provide timely updates as operations resume in the coming days. 🔹 IndiGo Follows with Six Airport Cancellations Following Air India's decision, IndiGo Airlines also issued a travel advisory cancelling its flight operations for May 13, 2025, at the following six airports : Jammu Amritsar Chandigarh Leh ...
Read more

Your Complete Online Guide to Land Records and Services in Bihar

Image
Introduction: The Shift Towards Digital Land Governance India’s land management system has traditionally relied on manual records maintained at local government offices. While foundational to governance and ownership, this manual system often led to bureaucratic delays, land disputes, and lack of transparency. Recognizing these issues, state governments across India have progressively adopted digital systems to make land-related services accessible, transparent, and efficient. Bihar Bhumi Portal: A Digital Leap in Land Management One of the leading examples of this digital transformation is Bihar’s Bihar Bhumi portal ( https://biharbhumilrc.com/ ), developed and maintained by the Revenue and Land Reforms Department of Bihar . The portal has become a centralized platform providing a wide range of land-related services to citizens, eliminating the need for in-person visits to land offices. Purpose and Vision The key objective behind launching the Bihar Bhumi portal was to empower...
Read more

District Judges' Appointment and Service: Constitutional Framework and Contemporary Imperatives

Image
District Judges' Appointment and Service: Constitutional Framework and Contemporary Imperatives Articles 233 to 237: Appointment and Conditions of Service of District Judges Articles 233 to 237 of the Indian Constitution delineate the appointment, qualifications, and conditions of service for District Judges, forming the bedrock of the judiciary's lower rung. Constitutional Provisions: Article 233 empowers the Governor in consultation with the High Court, and Article 234 specifies the method of appointment, ensuring the independence and integrity of District Judges. Case Laws and Precedents: State of Gujarat v. Gujarat Revenue Tribunal Bar Association (1969): This case reinforced the importance of judicial independence and underscored that District Judges' appointment should be free from external influence. All India Judges Association v. Union of India (2002): The Supreme Court reiterated the significance of the Governor's role in consultation with the High Court whi...
Read more

Evolution of Constitution under Article 14 to 18

Image
 Evolution of Constitution under Article 14 to 18 INTRODUCTION The idea of equality referenced under Article 14 to Article 18 upgrades a more extensive idea and a more extensive part of the examination as the subject of equity itself shapes a vital and powerful idea in itself. The idea of fairness overwhelms the exceptionally two significant ideas of equivalent security of law and equity under the steady gaze of the law. Likewise, the idea of uniformity wins in a wide range of establishments and accommodates equivalent freedoms for people with the abrogation of unapproachable and nullification of titles. The idea is a more extensive methodology as it is significant for society to look to each individual with a similar methodology regardless of his sexual orientation, rank, and religion. The law is visually impaired and is equivalent for each individual as it says that balance wins for each individual and each individual has the option to be secured by the law. Evolution  The f...
Read more

Equality Before Law

Image
                            Equality Before Law                                                   Introduction The rule of law was firstly introduced by A.V. Dicey in  his book "The Constitution Of England" in which there is rule which only prevails is law in which all are equal. In simple word if any wrong is being done which is not justifiable  by law committed by anyone that may be president, prime minister, or any individual are punishable because there is supremacy of law. Supremacy of law means the government which is power or the people who elected the government all will be treated equally before law.  Article 14 The Indian Constitution 1949, Article 14 guarantees "Equality before law The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the...
Read more

Constitutional Provisions Governing Union Territories and Delhi: A Comprehensive Analysis of Articles 239 to 240

Image
Constitutional Provisions Governing Union Territories and Delhi: A Comprehensive Analysis of Articles 239 to 240 Articles 239 to 240, 239A, 239AA, 239AB, and 239B: Governance Framework for Union Territories and Delhi Articles 239 to 240, along with 239A, 239AA, 239AB, and 239B of the Indian Constitution, establish a nuanced governance framework for Union Territories (UTs) and Delhi, outlining distinctive provisions for their administration. Constitutional Provisions: - Article 239: Lays down the administrative setup for UTs, granting the President powers to make regulations. - Article 240: Specifies provisions for the administration of UTs directly by the President or through an administrator appointed by the President. - Article 239A: Introduces special provisions for Puducherry, providing a legislature and a Council of Ministers. - Article 239AA: Confers a special status on Delhi as the National Capital Territory (NCT), providing an elected legislature and Council of Ministers wi...
Read more

Supreme Court Advocates for Childcare and Feeding Rooms in Public Spaces

Image
Supreme Court Advocates for Childcare and Feeding Rooms in Public Spaces The Supreme Court of India has suggested that the Union Government develop a comprehensive policy addressing the construction of feeding rooms and childcare facilities  in public places. This move aims to ensure that nursing mothers and their children can access basic amenities in a dignified and private manner, reinforcing their fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution. SC Encourages Policy Formulation A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna  and Justice N Kotiswar Singh  highlighted the absence of a structured framework to address this pressing issue. The court advised the Centre to propose a policy that could then be implemented across the states, scheduling the next hearing for December 10, 2024.   The apex court emphasized that before issuing formal directions, it was crucial to understand the Centre’s perspective on implementing the petitioner’s demand for childcare and feedi...
Read more

Delhi High Court Grants Bail to Former Bank Manager Accused of Defrauding Woman of ₹13 Crores

Image
Delhi High Court Grants Bail to Former Bank Manager  Accused of Defrauding Woman of ₹13 Crores  The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Varun Vashista , a former bank manager accused of embezzling over ₹13 crores from a customer’s account while working at ICICI Bank's Vikas Puri branch. The bail was approved by Justice Amit Mahajan on November 12, 2024, after considering the evidence and facts of the case.   Details of the Case The allegations against Vashista stem from his role as a branch manager. The complainant and her husband had entrusted him with managing their investments, amounting to ₹13.5 crores, between 2019 and 2023.   The complainant discovered in January 2024 that nearly ₹12 crores had been **siphoned off** from her account. Key allegations include:   - Creation of Fake Fixed Deposits: The accused reportedly created fraudulent fixed deposit accounts in the complainant’s name.   - Misappropriation of Funds: Funds were tr...
Read more