The Bhumi Adhikar Andolan has given a nationwide call to protest the ecological plunder of India’s forests and the regressive amendments in the Forest Conservation Bill, 2023 on Hul Diwas on 30th June. It said that let this day serve as a powerful statement of our opposition to the unabated loot of forest lands by the corporates and the regressive amendments proposed in the Forest Conservation Act by the BJP-led union government.

Appeal of the Bhumi Adhikar Andolan

Across our country, forest lands have been relentlessly exploited, leading to severe ecological damage and the displacement of indigenous communities and the proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act pose a grave threat to the rights of these communities, further diluting the hard-fought Forest Rights Act.

The proposed amendments in the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill 2023 have raised significant concerns and sparked the need for protest. There are several reasons contributing to our opposition to these amendments:

1. Exclusion of forest areas: The proposed amendments redefine and review forests in a way that could potentially exclude vast forest areas from the protection of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA). This disregard for forest conservation would result in extensive deforestation, environmental degradation, and the loss of livelihoods and biodiversity. Forest-dependent communities would face hunger, starvation, and displacement as a consequence.

2. Violation of marginalized communities’ rights: The proposed amendments overlook provisions in the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 and the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act (LARR) of 2013, thus violating the rights of marginalized communities. By limiting the application of the FCA and FRA, the amendments risk expediting forest diversions without the consent of local self-governance bodies known as Gram Sabhas. This perpetuates historical injustices and undermines the constitutional rights of marginalized communities.

3. Exemptions and lack of oversight: The amendments introduce exemptions for strategic projects, security-related infrastructure, and public utility projects, as well as provisions for eco-tourism facilities, silvicultural operations, zoos and safaris. These exemptions create opportunities for private entities to gain control over forests and forest resources without adequate forest clearance requirements. The lack of impact assessments and regulatory oversight poses risks to habitats, species, and forest ecosystems.

4. Disempowerment of Gram Sabhas: Lastly, the proposed amendments weaken the authority of Gram Sabhas and concentrate governance power in the hands of the central government. This undermines local-level actions for biodiversity conservation, contradicts constitutional provisions, and hinders the recognition of forest rights and the decision-making processes of communities.

Given these concerns, it is imperative to protest against the proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act. We strongly recommend the withdrawal of these amendments and the alignment of the Forest Conservation Act with the provisions of the Forest Rights Act. This would ensure the recognition and vesting of forest rights and the decision-making authority of Gram Sabhas. The involvement and consent of local communities, as well as the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, should be prioritized in any forest conservation and governance framework.

In light of these alarming developments, Bhumi Adhikar Andolan urges all pro-people organizations and individuals to observe 30th June 2023 as a Black Day. This day will serve as a powerful statement of our opposition to the unabated loot of forest lands and the regressive amendments proposed in the Forest Conservation Act.

To assert our constitutional rights, we call upon all our members, supporters, and like-minded individuals to organize protest demonstrations at the block level and state level. It is through our collective action that we can send a strong message to those in power that we stand united in our demand for justice, environmental protection, and the preservation of the rights of forest-dwelling communities.

During the protest demonstrations, we must highlight the following key messages:

1. Condemnation of forest land exploitation: We strongly condemn the ongoing exploitation of forest resources, which not only harms the environment but also displaces indigenous communities from their ancestral lands.

2. Rejection of the proposed amendments: We vehemently oppose the proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, as they seek to dilute the provisions of the Forest Rights Act and undermine the rights of forest-dwelling communities.

3. Solidarity with forest-dwelling communities: We express our unwavering support for the rights of forest-dwelling communities and pledge to stand by them in their struggle for justice and self-determination.

Together, let us make our voices heard on 30th June 2023 and send a powerful message that we will not tolerate the exploitation of our forests or the dilution of the Forest Rights Act. By joining hands and standing in solidarity, we can create a better future for our forests and the communities that depend on them.

Also read :

Attack on India’s forests and forest communities: Draft National Forest Policy 2018

The façade of Decriminalization: Adivasis Rights vis-à-vis Corporate Interests