To sustain our green cover, compensatory afforestation must follow compliance rules
March is a month of reminders on sustainable development and conservation of natural resources. March 3 was World Wildlife Day and March 14 the International Day of Action for Rivers. Today, March 21, is also an important day on the world calendar. It’s the International Day of Forests.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21 the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organise activities involving forests and trees, such as tree-planting campaigns.
‘Forests and Economies’ is the theme this year, celebrating the essential roles of forests in driving economic prosperity. With many countries seeking to move towards a sustainable bioeconomy, forest products offer nature-based solutions as replacements for carbon-intensive materials while generating new economic opportunities, the UN said. Forests are indispensable for healthy economies, today and for future generations. We cannot forget that forests serve as a foundation for economic activity, beyond just timber, offering jobs in forest management, ecotourism, forest products and ecosystem services. If rules are followed, forests can support sustainable economies.
Goa is known for its dense forests, rich biodiversity, hills, rivers, undulating plains, postcard-like landscapes, etc. Whether one likes it or not, people are sensitive to the environment. In the past, pro-greens have moved courts against tree cutting. However, despite protests by pro-environmental groups and activists, many promoters have succeeded in deforestation mainly in the hinterlands. The government has not missed any opportunity to say that Goa’s forests, a vital part of its ecosystem, cover around 60% of the state’s geographical area. Goa has six wildlife sanctuaries and one national park, covering around 20% of its geographical area, which helps conserve its rich biodiversity.
Goa had a bad experience with forest fires four years ago when huge chunks of green cover were lost. It’s been a challenging time for our forests. Human activities such as encroachments, mining, urbanisation and agriculture have led to a decline in forest cover, threatening biodiversity and disturbing ecosystems.
There is no doubt that for some public-oriented projects, and even for residential ones, trees have to be sacrificed. The debate is still on between development and the environment. Where to draw the line is the biggest question. For a decade now, Goa has been witnessing big-ticket projects and several trees have been cut to make way for them. There have been several cases in which permissions were taken for a specific number of trees, but the number felled was much higher. This was the modus operandi used, according to greens.
For the 10-year period from 2012, more than 92,000 trees were cut for government projects alone, according to government data. The figure for private projects was no less. Another set of data showed that 23,000 trees were felled over a five-year period ending mid-2025, and during this period, 183 hectares of forest were diverted for non-forest purposes. Compensatory afforestation is carried out, but its compliance is in doubt. The government said that five lakh saplings had been planted as compensation for cutting more than 50,000 trees during the construction of Manohar International Airport in Mopa. What has been the survival rate?
To protect green cover, especially in view of climate change implications, the government must tighten compliance measures so that compensatory afforestation is a success.
