Key Amendments and Updates
Over the years, this act has been amended many times according to new challenges in forest conservation. Some of the key Forest Conservation Act Amendments and updates are:
- The 1988 amendment to the Act defined compensatory forest so that whenever forest land is used for non-forest use, the applicant has to plant an equivalent area of non-forested lands or twice as much degraded forests in compensation.
- In 2003, the Act was amended to empower the Central Government to set up a National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to regulate the collection of funds for compensatory afforestation and other conservation purposes
- The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act of 2006 was enacted to recognize forest rights to land already belonging to forest dwelling tribes.
- In 2023, the Act was amended to restrict its application to only two types of land:
- (i) land declared/notified as forest under the Indian Forest Act or any other law, and
- (ii) land not covered in the first category but notified as a forest on or after October 25, 1980, in the official records.
Forest Conservation Act, 1980
Forest Conservation Act: The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, passed by the Indian Parliament, aims to protect and preserve forests and their resources. This law was created to address the problem of ongoing deforestation in India. It became effective on October 25, 1980, and consists of five sections outlining measures to control and prevent further damage to the country’s forests. Its importance lies in stopping deforestation, increasing carbon sink effectiveness, and promoting sustainable development.
This act came into effect on 25 October 1980 including five sections. Regular future amendments were done by the Environment Ministry of India, to ensure the global health of the Earth. The Forest Conservation Act occupies an important place within environmental protection and sustainable forest management activities.
In this article, we will read about the Forest Conservation Act, its history, objectives, features, needs, amendments, future prospects, etc.
Table of Content
- What is the Forest Conservation Act of 1980?
- History of the Forest Conservation Act
- Objectives of the Forest Conservation Act
- Features of the Forest Conservation Act
- Goals of the Forest Conservation Act
- Need for Forest Conservation Act, 1980
- Key Amendments and Updates
- Future Prospects on Forest Conservation Act
- Forest Conservation Act UPSC