Zoos, safaris will help protect forests, govt tells SC

Zoos and safari activities in forests will sensitise people about conserving forests and wildlife, said an affidavit filed by the Centre before the Supreme Court, which is considering petitions challenging the amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act where concerns have been raised over the changes potentially affecting the delicate ecological balance of these spaces.

- Abraham Thomas

In a response filed last week, the ministry of environment, forests climate change (MoEFCC) assured the court that the amended Act does not dilute the wider meaning of forests defined by the Supreme Court in a celebrated judgment of December 12, 1996 in the TN Godavarman matter. This decision held that forest land as defined in Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 would include not only forests as understood in the dictionary sense but any area recorded as a forest in government records.

The affidavit said, "All forests, including unclassed forests, recorded in record of government, forest department, local bodies, or authorities will also attract provisions of the Act...It is emphasised that the provisions of the Amended Act, in no way, will dilute the directions contained in the order of December 12, 1996 passed by Supreme Court. On the contrary, it will consolidate and codify the law relating to forests in the country."