NEP 2016 draft proposes green tax, increased forest budget

Aiming to bring one-third of the country's geographical area under forest cover, the Centre has prepared the new draft National Forest Policy (NFP) 2016 which proposes a "green tax" and an increase in the budget for the forest sector.
The draft says that large tracts of forest area in the country have degraded due to "immense" biotic pressure and "lack" of adequate investment.
The draft NFP 2016, which aims to replace the 1988 policy, also proposes a National and State Board of Forestry to ensure inter-sectoral convergence and conflict resolution, besides increasing the forestry budget.
"The budget of the forestry sector should be appropriately enhanced so that the objectives enshrined in this policy can be achieved. Investments on infrastructure and livelihood support for the forest dependent communities and forest management would be stepped up as they are equity enhancing and need to be given utmost priority.

"Environmental cess, green tax, carbon tax etc may be levied on certain products and services for facilitating ecologically responsible behaviour, garnering citizen's contribution and supplementing financial resources," the draft NFP, which has been put in the public domain for feedback from stakeholders, said.
The draft also proposes formulation of an inter-ministerial action plan with respect to policy directions, where definitive targets, milestone activities, timeliness and outcome indicators will be provided.

"An inter ministerial committee should be set up to periodically monitor the achievements and progress made under this action plan," the draft said.
The draft policy has taken note of the "decline" in the quality of forests, impact of climate change, "rising" human-wildlife conflict, intensifying water crises and growing air pollution.

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The draft calls for development of "sound ecotourism
models" with a focus on conservation to ensure nature education of visitors while supplementing the livelihood needs of the local communities.
"Ensure that tourism is responsible, does not negatively impact wildlife and its habitat and maximises the incomes of the local community," it said.
Noting that the forest land diversion projects related to mining, quarrying, construction of dams, roads and other linear infrastructure need to adopt "special caution", the draft policy proposes promotion of use of state-of-the-art technology which causes minimum pollution and damage.
"Institutionalised legal support should form an integral part of the forest administration and management. A National Board of Forestry and State Boards of Forestry should be established for ensuring inter-sectoral convergence, simplification of procedures, conflict resolution and periodic review," it said.

NFP 2016 draft noted that many forest ecosystems have been "significantly" altered due to land conversion, pollution, over population, deforestation amongst others with "devastating" impact on biological diversity and livelihood.
"The decline in the extent of dense forests should be reversed. The degraded forests should be restored by promoting natural regeneration, and locally suitable, ecologically viable and technologically robust afforestation and reforestation measures," the draft said.
It said that damage to forests from encroachments, illegal tree felling, grazing, firewood collection, use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides should be discouraged.
"Appropriate laws should be made and existing ones suitably amended for the effective implementation of this policy," the draft said.

The policy also observed that non-availability of pan country reliable and compatible datasets in the forestry sector is a matter of "serious concern".
The draft NFP 2016 has been prepared by the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) in Bhopal based on village level group discussions, regional and national level consultations and inputs from various stakeholders.