'Natural cover' to cut down private forest lands? (ToI)

'Natural cover' to cut down private forest lands? Paul Fernandes, TNN | Jun 5, 2013, 03.13 AM IST PANAJI: A green carnage is looming ahead as the Regional Plan 2021 (RP 2021) envisages eco-tourism projects and farmhouses in land defined as natural cover, but what is really the last chunks of pristine green in Goa. Greens and others fear that unidentified private forest lands on plateaus and slopes are doomed as the definition of natural cover has been equated with orchard land. "(This) zone includes considerably vegetated areas, probable private forest areas which need to be surveyed and may consist of cashew plantations, general tree cover, social forestry, some areas of kulagar or other green cover..." is how natural cover is defined in RP 2021. It states that this zone has been carved out from areas in existing orchard zones to protect maximum green cover from development pressures. But activists allege the new definition is aimed at diverting forests illegally for non-forestry purposes. "The definition of natural cover is aimed at diverting forest areas under the garb of eco-tourism projects and for farmhouses, but the land use in this case has to be shown clearly, either as orchard or forest," says Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation. S T Puttaraju, chief town planner, town and country planning department counters. Private forests are already defined and what is included in natural cover is additional land seen on Google, he says. "It will be verified if it comes under private forests," he says. The RP, while classifying natural cover, does promise to include forest areas under the Forest Conservation Act. "At present the zone (natural cover) is classified under Eco II. However, if and when the forest department surveys and identifies areas as 'forest' under Forest Conservation Act, these areas will be marked 'private forest' and treated as Eco I," it states. Activists are disappointed the RP allows development as per orchard zone. "In one stroke, the change in definition, as in RP 2001, has taken large chunks of forest lands out of the protection of the Act," said environmentalist Abhijeet Prabhudesai. Orchard area, as compared to natural cover with forest species of trees, comprises fruit trees and nut-bearing species in a cultivated wood with shrubbery. Alvares alleges that large areas of private forests are being felled selectively and "forest officers permit felling in small patches". After cases for development are referred to the forest department, the officials clear them, stating that the area does not meet the criteria of private forests, as the contiguity is broken and canopy cover is reduced by felling. "While private forests are being cleared, the forest department has failed to demarcate private forests in a small state with two districts, which are equal to one in a bigger state like Karnataka," Alvares expresses the irony. "The Supreme Court directive to identify the forests has not been complied with for nearly 17 years," agrees Prabhudesai. Principal chief conservator of forests Richard D'Souza says the digitizing of forest areas from the beat level to the division level is under way and that "this information with details like survey numbers will be given to TCP". The two committees on private forests to identify more areas are at work. "They will add to the 67 sq km identified by the Sawant and Karapurkar committees of private forests," he adds. RP 2021 permits eco-tourism schemes in natural cover, while farmhouses and pump houses are also permitted as per farmhouse guidelines on special grounds. "Several projects have been approved by circumventing the law by the authorities protecting the environment. They only pay lip service to it," says Sabina Martins, convener, Goa Bachao Abhiyan. Puttaraju says a cap has been imposed on the use of land for farmhouses. "If anybody has lakhs of square metres of land, he can use only 5% of it, subject to a maximum of 500 sq m." He added that there is no legal hurdle to approving projects as the government has notified the RP. Further, as per the order issued in April 2012, the policies and guidelines will be as per RP 2021. "For the purpose of land use, the 2001 plan should be used as a reference plan," said Puttaraju. The sweeping change of classification of all green areas, be they mixed or dense forests or orchards, into a new definition of natural cover has exposed the forest areas for development. In many areas, especially Socorro, structures have been permitted in no-development zones where pockets were earlier converted using loopholes. The "settlement fence" has been maintained subtly. "During the Portuguese times, the plans showed forests were demarcated as mixed, dense, orchards and even scrubs," points out Hyacinth Pinto, an architect. Development in eco-sensitive zone one is permitted on certain conditions. Earlier farmhouses were allowed for agricultural purposes or animal husbandry and activists are now worried that the loophole is being used to build residential houses with plush amenities. Regarding eco-tourism projects, "the felling of trees will be encouraged as a property owner with 2 lakh square metres can use 10%-about 20,000 square metres. This will help only outsiders," Pinto concludes. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Natural-cover-to-cut-down-private-forest-lands/articleshow/20435075.cms