What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

EDITORIAL 1: Why environmentalists have criticised Haryana govt’s definition of ‘forest’

Context

The Haryana government on Monday officially defined the dictionary meaning of ‘forest’.

Haryana’s definition

• In its notification,  Haryana’s Environment, Forest and Wildlife department stated: “A patch of land shall be deemed to be ‘forest as per dictionary meaning’ if it fulfils following conditions:

1. It has a minimum area of five hectares, if it is in isolation, and a minimum area of two hectares, if it is in contiguity with the government notified forests; and
2. It has a canopy density of 0.4 (40%) or more.

• The notification further specifies that “all linear/compact/agro-forestry plantations and orchards situated outside the government notified forests shall not be treated as forests under the above definition”.
• Such linear plantations are frequently found along roads, canals and railway tracks, where they can serve multiple purposes.

SC’s directives in March

• The Haryana government’s notification came after the Supreme Court directed all States and Union Territories to define what constitutes a “forest” and commence surveys to identify forest areas in their respective jurisdictions.
• The court said that States and UTs must constitute expert committees within one month to identify “forest-like areas”, “unclassified forest lands”, and “community forest lands”, and that these committees must complete their mapping of forest lands and submit a report to the Centre within six months.
• The court further said that the process must strictly follow the 2011 Lafarge Umiam Mining guidelines, mandating a GIS-based decision-support database that includes — district-wise plots that may qualify as “forest” under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (FCA); Core, buffer, and eco-sensitive zones of protected areas; important wildlife migratory corridors; lands diverted from forest use in the past; and supporting maps like TOPO-sheets and Forest Survey of India maps.

Godavarman & the FCA

• The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 was meant to stop forest land from being used for non-forest purposeswithout approval from the central government.
• In 1996 the Supreme Court in the T N Godavarman case said that the word forest should be understood in its dictionary meaning.
• This meant that any land with forest like characteristics even if not officially declared a forest would still be protected under the Act.
• In 2023 the government amended the FCA arguing that this wide definition was blocking development projects including basic infrastructure like toilets in tribal schools.
• The amendment limited the Act to only officially notified forests or those listed in government records.
• This change was challenged in the Supreme Court by retired forest officers and NGOs who claimed it weakened forest protection.
• In response the Court in February 2024 directed all states and union territories to continue following the Godavarman definition until a final verdict is given.
• In March the Court asked the central government to collect and consolidate reports from all states and UTs. The next hearing is scheduled for September 9 2025.

Haryana’s unending dilemma: Forest or not a forest

• But environmentalists have been critical of Haryana’s definition which, they say, creates “a very high threshold” for a land to be classified as forest.
• The Aravallis in the south and west (of Haryana) get only 300 to 600 mm rainfall annually. This low rainfall and the rocky terrain creates tough conditions for growth of forests in the Aravalli.
• Vegetation here has adapted over millions of years into a stunted growth of thorny and dry deciduous species and scrub forest conditions.

Conclusion

The decision to keep such a high threshold of forest cover will exclude much the Aravallis from the protective embrace of the FCA and that this definition was prima facie violative of the 1996 Godavarman judgement. The minimum area threshold of 2 and 5 hectares is also unreasonably high for such a dry state and should have been kept at 1 and 2 hectares, respectively.

 

EDITORIAL 2: Why every tiger carcass needs an autopsy

Context

A forest guard, a forest ranger assistant, and six forest staff members have been arrested for allegedly burning the carcass of a tiger in a bid to hide the animal’s death at Lalbarra range in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district.

Why is it necessary to report the discovery of a tiger carcass?

• This is important as it allows officials to conduct a forensic investigation of the tiger carcass.
• It’s vital to inform the senior officials so that a forensic examination is conducted to see if it was a case of poaching. If the cause of death is found to be unnatural, it is treated as a case of poaching, especially when the carcass is of a protected animal such as a tiger.
• This helps authorities take the required steps to curb, if any, incidents of poaching.
• A forensic investigation of the carcass also allows authorities to ascertain if an infection has killed a tiger. This is crucial to limit the number of deaths in case there is an outbreak of a disease.
• Officials check if the death has been caused due to territorial fighting among tigers. Such efforts help conserve the tiger population.

What happens after the discovery of a tiger carcass?

• The main responsibility for managing the spot lies with the divisional forest officer, the range officer, and the assistant conservator of the forest.
• The field staff have to immediately inform their field director and call for an investigation team to reach the spot. In case of seizures and arrests, at least two independent witnesses are also expected to be roped in.

How does the investigative team work at the spot?

• The spot is cordoned off with a tape or a rope. Officials take the area’s pictures and videos from different angles for comparison. The area is also divided into grids to collect evidence and details such as animal/human/tyre marks of vehicles.
• The investigation team notes the time and date of the carcass’s discovery, and the GPS location of the spot.
• If preliminary evidence points to fighting between animals, then wildlife officials examine the area to look for a trail of animals.
• However, if there is a suspicion of poaching, the investigation team looks for external evidence from the carcass, like wounds, bullet injury/marks, and symptoms of poisoning.

​​​​​​​What are the samples collected from the spot?

• As per the NTCA guidelines, investigators should collect blood samples, body fluids, tissues, and hair/fur/teeth/bone pieces, among others.
• Other items — such as gun powder, cloth fibre, paint chips, cartridge case, bullets, footprints, etc. — found at the sport should also be collected.
• Samples are put in separate transparent polythene bags, and they should be properly labelled with exhibit numbers and descriptions.

What are some of the precautions taken during postmortem?

• The post mortem should ideally be conducted near the site of discovery, and vital samples of visceral content and tissue be collected for examination at a later stage.
• The post-mortem has to be conducted  in daylight in the presence of representatives from the NTCA, the chief wildlife warden, and a local NGO. All stakeholders are invited for more transparency in the process.
• The final postmortem report is sent to the chief wildlife warden and NTCA.

How do officials dispose of the carcass?

• The carcass is incinerated in the presence of a field director or any authorised officer not below the rank of deputy conservator of forests.
• While incinerating the carcass, the sequence must be photographed and video recorded.
• Before leaving the site, it must be ensured that the whole carcass, including bones, is fully burnt.
• After ensuring the complete incineration of the carcass, a ‘panchnama’ (memo) is prepared and signed by the post-mortem team and the officer in-charge.

Conclusion

Overall, the examination helps determine if the animal’s death took place due to natural causes or criminal activities, such as poaching and illicit logging.