Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Green washing: On amendments and the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023

Green washing: On amendments and the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023

Changes to conservation laws must be backed (support, endorse, sanction, uphold, approve, advocate, champion) by scientific evidence

The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill (A Bill is a draft statute that becomes law after it is passed. All legislative proposals are brought before Parliament in the forms of Bills (or) draft statute/law, proposed legislation, proposal (presented to parliament/congress/council for discussion)), 2023, that is being deliberated (विचार करना, सोचना) upon by a Joint Committee of Parliament, is a contentious (विवादास्पद) piece of legislation (कानून, विधान) that signals the complex challenges involved in balancing industrial development and the conservation of forests. While industrialisation (औद्योगीकरण) inevitably (अनिवार्य रूप से) means usurping (हड़पना) greater tracts of forest land and ecosystems (पारिस्थितिक तंत्र), the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been the mantelpiece (hood or shelf like framework/projection/structure that surrounds the opening of a fireplace (chimney or furnace)) legislation that has empowered (अधिकार देना, अनुमति देना) the state (राज्य) to regulate (विनियमन करना) this and impose (levy, charge, apply, enforce) costs on such industrial exploitation (शोषण, दुरुपयोग). Originally meant for notified forests, a landmark (milestone, watershed, historic event, major achievement) Supreme Court judgment, in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad case (1996) (In 1995, T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court of India to protect the Nilgiris forest land from deforestation by illegal timber operations. The Supreme Court issued detailed directions for the sustainable use of forests and created its own monitoring and implementation system through regional and state level communities, regulating the felling, use and movement of timber across the country in the hope of preserving the nation’s forest. The Court examined in detail all the aspect of the National Forest Policy, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, which was enacted with a view to check further deforestation. It emphasised that the word ‘forest’ must be understood according to its dictionary meaning of the term irrespective of the nature of ownership and classification thereof), among other things, broadened the scope of such protection to even those not officially classified so. India’s forest cover has seen only marginal (slight, small, minute, negligible) increases, as biennial (द्विवर्षीय) reports of the Forest Survey of India illustrate (show, display, demonstrate, represent, exemplify). Growth in forest cover (‘Forest cover’, in India, refers to land greater than one hectare in size where the tree canopy density is greater than 10%) inside officially recorded forests is stagnant (inactive, slow, dull, sluggish, lethargic), or at best (only, simply, but, nothing but) incremental (gradual, step-by-step, phased). It is tree cover in orchards, plantations and village homesteads (home, place of residence) that has been on the rise (increasing, becoming higher/greater (in number, amount, value, etc.)) and supplementing (complement, augment, enhance, accompany) India’s claim that 24% of its area is under forest and tree cover. India has committed to increasing this number to 33% and adding a carbon sink (also known as carbon sequestration; a natural environment (forest or reservoir) which absorbs and stores carbon (greenhouse gases) from the atmosphere and thereby maintain a balance. (carbon sequestration is the process by which the forest removes and stores carbon from the atmosphere)) of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide this way, by 2030, as part of its international climate commitments.

The existing Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 — in the Environment Ministry’s reckoning (judgement, calculation, estimation, consideration, evaluation, opinion/view, way of thinking) — was insufficient for these ends, as it did not incentivise (encourage, motivate, galvanize) private agro-forestry and tree plantation activities. From 2019 to 2021, India added 1,540 square kilometres of forest cover of which 1,509 sq. km was outside recorded forest area. The new amendments to the Forest Act gave such incentives (stimulus, boost, encouragement, impetus) by clearly defining the limits of the 1996 judgment. Only land recorded as ‘forest’ in any government record on or after 1980 would invoke (cite, refer to, bring forth, turn to, resort to) provisions of the Act. Forest land authorised by States for non-forestry uses between 1980-1996 would not invoke provisions (term, clause, requirement, specification, stipulation) of the Act. The amendments effectively (practically, actually, in effect, virtually, more or less) mean States can no longer classify unclassified forest land, or patches of trees with forest-like characteristics as ‘forest land’. The amendments also allow forest land, up to 100 km near India’s borders, to be appropriated (seize something (e.g. a position of power) by force (or without legal right); take over, expropriate, usurp, commandeer, wrest, grab, claim, steal), without central approval, for “strategic (relating to achieving long-term military advantage or overall goals) and security” purposes. The primary criticism is that these amendments do not really contribute to regenerating natural forest, but rather incentivise afforestation (the effort to plant trees in barren (unproductive) lands so as to create a forest) for commercial ends (purpose, goal, intention, motive, desire). What is worrying is that the parliamentary committee, despite its statutory (legal, legitimate, constitutional) privileges (prerogative, right, liberty, benefit, advantage), has not expressed any opinion or suggestion on the way forward (something (a plan/action) that leads to success in the future). Grooming (prepare, arrange) private forests might look good in theory but expecting them to be a permanent carbon stock is wishful (based on impractical desires instead of facts) thinking given (considering, taking into account, bearing in mind) that strong market incentives exist to use them as ‘carbon credits’. While new climate realities might necessitate (make necessary, require, entail, need, want, involve, demand, call for) changes to the way conservation laws are interpreted (translate, transcribe, convert; explain, clarify, elucidate, spell out), these must be backed by rigorous (strict, stringent, severe, stern, demanding, uncompromising) scientific evidence.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.deliberate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - विचार करना, सोचना
English Meaning - think about, consider, discuss, contemplate, ponder.

2.House committees (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सदन समितियाँ
English Meaning - The parliamentary (standing & select) committees; They do close examination and investigation of government policies, actions and spending.

3.Parliamentary select committee (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संसदीय चयन समिति
English Meaning - ‘parliamentary select committee’ can be formed for a specific purpose, for instance, to deliberate on a particular bill. Once the Bill is disposed of, that select committee ceases to exist.

4.joint parliamentary committee (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संयुक्त संसदीय समिति
English Meaning - ad hoc (temporary) Committees appointed for a specific purpose (to examine irregularities and aberrations, if any, and the consequences therefore in the implementation of Government decisions and policy prescriptions) and they (JPCs) cease to exist when they finish the task assigned to them and submit a report.

5.contentious (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विवादास्पद
English Meaning - controversial, disputable, debatable.

6.legislation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कानून, विधान
English Meaning - body of laws, acts, rules, regulations, statutes.

7.industrialisation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - औद्योगीकरण
English Meaning - the extensive development of industries in a region, country, culture, etc.

8.inevitably (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - अनिवार्य रूप से
English Meaning - unavoidably, certainly, definitely.

9.usurp (verb)

Hindi Meaning - हड़पना
English Meaning - seize something by force (or without legal right); take over, expropriate, appropriate, commandeer, wrest, grab, claim, steal

10.ecosystem (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पारिस्थितिक तंत्र
English Meaning - complex situation/environment.

11.empower (verb)

Hindi Meaning - अधिकार देना, अनुमति देना
English Meaning - authorize, permit, allow.

12.the state (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य
English Meaning - the government.

13.regulate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - विनियमन करना
English Meaning - control, manage, direct, guide, govern, administer.

14.exploitation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शोषण, दुरुपयोग
English Meaning - misuse, utilization, manipulation, cashing in on, taking advantage.

15.biennial (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - द्विवर्षीय
English Meaning - taking place/happening every two years.

16.greenwashing (noun)

English Meaning - the misleading claim/act of companies/organisations that their products and services are environmentally friendly & energy-efficient without providing enough evidence.

17.green (adjective)

English Meaning - environmentally friendly, ecologically sound, energy-efficient, clean.

18.Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 (noun)

English Meaning - Generally speaking, the Bill exempts certain types of forest land from the protection afforded by the Act. It also expands the list of activities that can be carried out on forest land. This Bill seeks to amend the pivotal 1980 law which was enacted to ensure that India’s forest land is not wantonly usurped for non-forestry purposes.

19.Bill (noun)

English Meaning - A Bill is a draft statute that becomes law after it is passed. All legislative proposals are brought before Parliament in the forms of Bills (or) draft statute/law, proposed legislation, proposal (presented to parliament/congress/council for discussion).

20.back (verb)

English Meaning - support, endorse, sanction, uphold, approve, advocate, champion.

21.Parliamentary Standing Committee/Parliamentary panel (noun)

English Meaning - it is a committee (consisting of Members of Parliament) constituted usually on an annual basis to enable detailed consideration/discussion on all bills (all proposed laws).

22.tract (noun)

English Meaning - area, region, stretch, swathe, territory, piece of land, parcel of land.

23.The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (noun)

English Meaning - it was enacted to provide for the conservation of forests and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It provides that prior permission of the Central Government is required for de-reservation of forest land, use of forest land for non-forest purposes, assigning of forest land by way of lease to private entities and for clearing of naturally grown trees for the purpose of reafforestation.

24.mantelpiece (noun)

English Meaning - hood or shelf like framework/projection/structure that surrounds the opening of a fireplace (chimney or furnace).

25.impose (verb)

English Meaning - levy, charge, apply, enforce.

26.landmark (noun as modifier)

English Meaning - milestone, watershed, historic event, major achievement.

27.T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad case (1996) (noun)

English Meaning - In 1995, T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court of India to protect the Nilgiris forest land from deforestation by illegal timber operations. The Supreme Court issued detailed directions for the sustainable use of forests and created its own monitoring and implementation system through regional and state level communities, regulating the felling, use and movement of timber across the country in the hope of preserving the nation’s forest. The Court examined in detail all the aspect of the National Forest Policy, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, which was enacted with a view to check further deforestation. It emphasised that the word ‘forest’ must be understood according to its dictionary meaning of the term irrespective of the nature of ownership and classification thereof.

28.among other things (phrase)

English Meaning - used to indicate that there are several more things like the one mentioned, but that you do not intend to mention them all.

29.broaden (verb)

English Meaning - widen, increase, enlarge.

30.marginal (adjective)

English Meaning - slight, small, minute, negligible.

31.forest cover (noun)

English Meaning - ‘Forest cover’, in India, refers to land greater than one hectare in size where the tree canopy density is greater than 10%.

32.India State of Forest Report (ISFR) (noun)

English Meaning - India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is a biennial publication of Forest Survey of India (FSI) an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

33.illustrate (verb)

English Meaning - show, display, demonstrate, represent, exemplify.

34.stagnant (adjective)

English Meaning - inactive, slow, dull, sluggish, lethargic.

35.at best (phrase)

English Meaning - only, simply, but, nothing but.

36.incremental (adjective)

English Meaning - gradual, step-by-step, phased.

37.orchard (noun)

English Meaning - an enclosed place where fruit trees are grown.

38.homestead (noun)

English Meaning - home, place of residence.

39.on the rise (phrase)

English Meaning - increasing, becoming higher/greater (in number, amount, value, etc.).

40.supplement (verb)

English Meaning - complement, augment, enhance, accompany.

41.claim (noun)

English Meaning - assertion, profession, affirmation, declaration.

42.carbon sink (noun)

English Meaning - also known as carbon sequestration; a natural environment (forest or reservoir) which absorbs and stores carbon (greenhouse gases) from the atmosphere and thereby maintain a balance. (carbon sequestration is the process by which the forest removes and stores carbon from the atmosphere).

43.reckoning (noun)

English Meaning - judgement, calculation, estimation, consideration, evaluation, opinion/view, way of thinking.

44.for that end (phrase)

English Meaning - for that reason; with that goal.

45.incentivise (verb)

English Meaning - encourage, motivate, galvanize.

46.incentive (noun)

English Meaning - stimulus, boost, encouragement, impetus.

47.invoke (verb)

English Meaning - cite, refer to, bring forth, turn to, resort to.

48.provision (noun)

English Meaning - term, clause, requirement, specification, stipulation.

49.forestry (noun)

English Meaning - the science or skill of growing and taking care of trees in forests; forest management, forest planting, tree growing/forestation, afforestation.

50.effectively (adverb)

English Meaning - practically, actually, in effect, virtually, more or less.

51.unclassified forest (noun)

English Meaning - an area recorded as forest but not included in reserved or protected forest category. Ownership status of such forests varies from state to state.

52.protected Forest (noun)

English Meaning - an area notified under the provisions of India Forest Act or the State Forest Acts having limited degree of protection. In Protected Forests all activities are permitted unless prohibited.

53.reserved Forest (noun)

English Meaning - an area notified under the provisions of India Forest Act or the State Forest Acts having full degree of protection. In Reserved Forests all activities are prohibited unless permitted.

54.appropriate (verb)

English Meaning - seize something (e.g. a position of power) by force (or without legal right); take over, expropriate, usurp, commandeer, wrest, grab, claim, steal.

55.strategic (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to achieving long-term military advantage or overall goals.

56.afforestation (noun)

English Meaning - the effort to plant trees in barren (unproductive) lands so as to create a forest.

57.end (noun)

English Meaning - purpose, goal, intention, motive, desire.

58.statutory (adjective)

English Meaning - legal, legitimate, constitutional.

59.privilege (noun)

English Meaning - prerogative, right, liberty, benefit, advantage.

60.the way forward (phrase)

English Meaning - something (a plan/action) that leads to success in the future.

61.groom (verb)

English Meaning - prepare, arrange.

62.in theory (phrase)

English Meaning - in principle, on paper, hypothetically.

63.carbon stock (noun)

English Meaning - it is the amount of carbon that has been sequestered from the atmosphere and is now stored within the forest ecosystem, mainly within living biomass and soil, and to a lesser extent also in dead wood and litter. (‘sequester’ means isolate, separate, segregate, withdraw, remove).

64.ishful (adjective)

English Meaning - based on impractical desires instead of facts.

65.wishful thinking (noun)

English Meaning - utopianism, idealism, daydreaming, mistaken belief, illusion, fantasy, chimera.

66.given (preposition)

English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

67.carbon credit (noun)

English Meaning - a tradable permit or certificate that provides the holder of the credit the right to emit one ton of carbon dioxide or an equivalent of another greenhouse gas.

68.necessitate (verb)

English Meaning - make necessary, require, entail, need, want, involve, demand, call for.

69.interpret (verb)

English Meaning - translate, transcribe, convert; explain, clarify, elucidate, spell out.

70.rigorous (adjective)

English Meaning - strict, stringent, severe, stern, demanding, uncompromising.