Compensatory afforestation doesn’t match deforestation

 1357 hectares of land have been diverted for non-forestry purposes since 2018, with only 245 hectares of compensatory afforestation in the state

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Spells of rainfall and dry spells with sweltering heat in Assam are indicative of the direct impact of climate change. The visible decrease in forest cover in the state is one of the anticipated reasons for this.

The diversion of forest areas for non-forestry purposes, mainly for the construction of roads, including national highways and state highways, is a reality. Against such a backdrop, is the ‘compensatory afforestation (CA)’ in the state adequate?

Compensatory afforestation (CA) is the process of afforestation and associated regeneration activities to compensate for destroyed forest land that has been diverted to non-forest activities. According to information from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, as many as 1357.17 hectares of forest land got diverted for non-forestry purposes under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2023.

Most of the diversion of forest areas for non-forestry purposes in Assam takes place for the construction of highways. According to guidelines from the Central Government, compensatory aforestation is a must to compensate for the loss of forest cover.

A reality check shows that in the past three financial years, compensatory aforestation in the state has been too meagre. From 2020–21 to 2022–23, the compensatory afforested area was only 245.16 hectares in the state. According to the information from the Union Ministry, various authorities afforested 79.26 hectares of land in 2020–21, 120.62 hectares in 2021–22, and 45.28 hectares in 2022–23 in the state. These statistics on aforestation cut a sorry figure. Taking such serious matters with the right earnestness and expediting compensatory aforestation in the state do augur well for the authorities concerned. According to the Union Ministry, “Whenever the Central Government accords prior approval for use of forest land for non-forestry purposes, the cost of compensatory aforestation and net present value of the land are realised from the user agency as per norms. As per the conditions of the approval of the states or union territories concerned, they have to ensure that a minimum number of trees are felled and, whenever possible, translocation of trees is done.”

As per rules, ten saplings have to be planted for the felling of one tree for development purposes.

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