Ambiguity on Question of Land for Afforestation
Where is the land for afforestation? On which land are the forest plantations to be increased? This is the crux of the issue. The Draft is deliberately ambiguous if not duplicitous on this point. Although it mentions plantations "outside forests" in many other clauses it includes forests and forest land under forest corporations for planting trees for commercial use.
It is here that the experience of the implementation of CAFA is critical to understand the actual implications of this conflation of afforestation and forest plantations. An ongoing study of 2,479 compensatory afforestation projects across 10 States by forest rights groups has shown that over 70% were consisting of plantations on existing forest land, including dense forests. The study detailed the violence unleashed against villagers by Government agencies because they were protesting against such plantations.
The Draft Policy praises supports and promotes such plantations.
The 1988 Forest Policy had stated "(3.2) Diversion of good and productive agriculture lands to forestry should be discouraged in view of the need for increased food production." In this document food security of the nation does not even warrant a mention. On the contrary, the policy draft promotes agreements between industry and farmers to ensure more availability of timber.
Where is the land for afforestation? On which land are the forest plantations to be increased? This is the crux of the issue. The Draft is deliberately ambiguous if not duplicitous on this point. Although it mentions plantations "outside forests" in many other clauses it includes forests and forest land under forest corporations for planting trees for commercial use.
It is here that the experience of the implementation of CAFA is critical to understand the actual implications of this conflation of afforestation and forest plantations. An ongoing study of 2,479 compensatory afforestation projects across 10 States by forest rights groups has shown that over 70% were consisting of plantations on existing forest land, including dense forests. The study detailed the violence unleashed against villagers by Government agencies because they were protesting against such plantations.
The Draft Policy praises supports and promotes such plantations.
The 1988 Forest Policy had stated "(3.2) Diversion of good and productive agriculture lands to forestry should be discouraged in view of the need for increased food production." In this document food security of the nation does not even warrant a mention. On the contrary, the policy draft promotes agreements between industry and farmers to ensure more availability of timber.
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