NEW DELHI/SHIMLA: Rajya Sabha passed the highly contentious Forest Conservation Amendment Bill 2023. The passage of the Bill followed soon after a comprehensive reply from the Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, in response to the discussion raised by Rajya Sabha MPs on the Bill.
The Bill's passage has been met with mixed reactions, with NGOs, civil society groups, conservationists, and environmentalists expressing strong opposition, fearing its potential impact on endangered forests and ecosystems across India.
Bill exempts the 100 km corridor along the International Border for road connectivity and infra development and eco-tourism activities and Zoos and Safaris to enhance livelihoods of local communities, which opponents termed as an attempt to facilitate the corporate's entry into the protected habitats.
Union Minister Yadav defended the proposed amendments, asserting that they aim to conserve India's forests and ecosystems while also ensuring minimal utilitarian services for tribal communities residing in the forest areas.
Amendment is for better road connectivity to the Borders for protecting country's international borders under what he called PM's new model of conservation and development "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishvas" including protection of wildlife and forests under mission LiFE which find mention in Upnishads.
He said that tiger reserves, forest reserves, and ecosystems would continue to be protected and so will be the rights of the Tribals under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the amendments would enable the states to provide essential services to remote villagers in forest areas.
He said Bharat has embraced “Biocentric development” and safeguarding the country's forests and wildlife. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the global community during the environmental talks in Glasgow, emphasizing that "nature is not charity." He urged nations to adopt sustainable practices and prioritize an environment-friendly lifestyle, Yadav said.
The new philosophy, inspired by the anthropometric model of the West, rejects the notion of exploiting resources mindlessly and focuses on coexistence with nature.
The Prime Minister presented the mission as "Mission LiFE," emphasizing an eco-friendly approach to life and development.
In light of this initiative, India takes immense pride in its tiger conservation program, which has seen a significant increase in the number of tigers and the expansion of tiger reserves. The country now boasts 33 tiger reserves covering an area of 75,000 square kilometers, ensuring the protection of these magnificent creatures, he said.
Addressing concerns raised by MPs , the Ministry assured that their rights and livelihoods within the forests would be fully protected. Efforts will be made to encourage agroforestry and community involvement in forest management, enhancing their standard of living and fostering sustainable practices.
The government aims to achieve a balance between infrastructure development and conserving wildlife habitats. India is already working on creating elevated corridors and animated wildlife crossings to minimize human-wildlife conflicts and ensure the seamless movement of animals.
Furthermore, the country has established the International Big Cat Alliance, focusing on biodiversity conservation. Over 717 countries and 12 international organizations have already joined the alliance, showing the global commitment to preserving the rich ecological diversity.
In a bid to promote eco-tourism, the government declared zoo-based tourism as a non-forest activity, intending to boost local incomes and preserve traditional knowledge of the area. The Ministry encourages the use of regional languages and the removal of colonial names, affirming its commitment to cultural preservation.
The Forest Conservation Amendment Act has been introduced to support this biocentric approach, defining forest areas and activities to ensure sustainable forest management. The act seeks to strengthen the rights of tribal communities, promoting joint management committees, and forest conservation committees for effective forest governance, Yadav said.
The forest report reveals a positive trend in the country's forest cover, reflecting India's dedication to environmental conservation. The nation takes pride in its balanced approach to development, with a vision of harmony between humanity and nature.
However, various groups across 16 states had been demanding the scrapping of the Bill, claiming that it could lead to the destruction of already depleting forests and ecosystems and paving the way for the commercial companaies to make their forays into the sensitive eco-systems in Himalayan states, Tiger Reserves, Mangroves, National Parks and reserved forests which are already bleeding due to poaching and increased human interference.
The Bill has already been passed in the Lok Sabha, and today's approval in the Rajya Sabha makes it a law in India.
The new amendments have drawn attention due to concerns that they may open the door for commercial interests in forest areas and sensitive eco-zones like the Himalayas and mangroves.
While some MPs have raised ecological concerns and contested the Bill in Rajya Saba during discussion, it ultimately gained approval in the Rajya Sabha with all members present voting in favor and those select few MPs were marked absent by the Rajya Sabha Speaker when the Bills came up for the voting.
Barring one MP from Sikkim, none of the MPs from Himalayan states of Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh and other northeastern states contested the Bill and staging walkout over the Bill.
The opponents of the Bill is a coalition of environmental groups, concerned citizens, and NGOs who have launched tweeter storms and bombarding their messages on Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs cutting across party lines.
They had launched twitterstorms tagging RajyaSabhaMPs seeking the rejection for the Bill, but all seemed to have gone in vain after the Bill was passed with not even single MP present in a 245-member House saying "No" to the Bill. 
Many pan-India citizens groups opposing the Bill are Climate Front India, Let India Breathe, Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, Save Mollem, United Conservation Movement, National Alliance of People’s Movement, Save Aarey group, Youth for Himalaya, Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathaan, Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangathan, Yugma Collective, Area Sabha Association of Pune, Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Fridays For Future India, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Warrior Moms, Friends of Earth (India) and other ecologists and conservationists.
They have raised concerns about its potential repercussions on India's “treasured forests and the delicate balance of wildlife, water security, and the very survival of indigenous communities” in this era of Climate Change.
For these voices, the amendment seeks to exclude large forest lands from the protective umbrella of the Forest Conservation Act.
They fear that it could open the floodgates to rampant exploitation and irreversible destruction of ecologically sensitive areas along international borders in Himalayan states, Mangroves, Western Ghats and Goa and Nicobar Islands.
Environmentalists and activists argue that such “uncontrolled exploitation could have dire consequences for biodiversity and the intricate ecosystems that these forests support”.
They argue that well-being and survival of indigenous communities are deeply interconnected with these natural habitats for generations. Now it hangs in balance, as their traditional lifestyles and livelihoods face an uncertain future, they claim.
They believe that preserving these invaluable ecosystems is not just about safeguarding India's natural heritage, but also a moral obligation to preserve the planet's biodiversity in the face of global climate change.
However, on the other side of the divide, supporters of the amendment see a different narrative unfolding.
They support importance of national development and security, asserting that connecting sensitive border areas and regions across international borders is not only critical for safeguarding the nation's territorial integrity but also vital for bolstering economic prosperity of natives.
According to proponents of the amendment, many strategic projects of national significance have long been hindered by the provision of the Act.
They argue that these regulations are good, but have stalled crucial infrastructural development that could potentially uplift the living standards of the population and strengthen the country's defense capabilities.
They bat for a balance between development and environmental preservation. They advocate for a more pragmatic approach that factors in the needs of a growing population and the demands of a developing economy.
Connectivity and infrastructural development, they argue, will not only lead to economic growth but also create employment opportunities, particularly benefiting the local communities residing in these areas.
