Needs for Stable Urban Forests in India

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• One of Hyderabad’s last remaining urban forests, Kancha Gachibowli, faced the threat of extinction when the Telangana government decided to give away 400 acres of its land for industrial development.

Importance of Urban Forests

• Climate Change Mitigation: Urban trees absorb CO₂ and sequester carbon, reducing urban greenhouse gas emissions.
• Pollution Control: A hectare of trees can remove nearly one ton of pollutants annually, helping mitigate harmful PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels.
• Temperature Regulation: Urban forests reduce the Urban Heat Island effect, promoting cooler and livable cities.
• Stormwater Management: They help control flooding and erosion, ensuring better water infiltration and urban resilience.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Serve as urban wildlife refuges, supporting endangered birds and animal species.
• Social Well-being: Offer spaces for recreation, relaxation, and cultural activities, counterbalancing the high-speed urban lifestyle.

Judicial Interventions to protect Urban forests

• T.N. Godavarman v. Union of India Case (1996): In this case, the Supreme Court interpreted Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The court ruled that ‘forest land’ includes;
  • Areas considered as ‘forest’ in the dictionary sense.
  • Any area recorded as forest in government records, irrespective of ownership.
• Samatha v. State of Andhra Pradesh (1997): The Supreme Court  held that government-owned forest land in Scheduled Areas cannot be leased to non-tribals or private companies for mining.

Government Initiatives

• Nagar Van Yojana: The scheme was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and aims to create 1000 Urban Forests by 2027.
  • According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, the scheme added 1445.81 sq. km of tree/forest cover.
• National Forest Policy (1988) and National Mission for Green India (2014) aim to expand forest cover through afforestation.
• Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) promote integrated ecological design in urban spaces.

Way Ahead

• Enforce Green Norms in Urban Planning: Integrate urban forestry into city master plans and zoning regulations.
• Expand Legal Protection: Strengthen forest protection laws and penal provisions for illegal deforestation.
• Citizen Participation: Encourage community-led forest protection movements and awareness campaigns.
• Data-Driven Governance: Maintain accurate digital inventories and satellite-based monitoring of urban forests.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Involve corporations in urban afforestation as part of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) activities.

Concluding remarks

• Urban forests like Aarey (Mumbai), Turahalli (Bengaluru), Ridge (Delhi), and Dol Ka Baadh (Jaipur) are crucial for ecological and public health.
• The judicial, policy, and civic actions must align to prevent the extinction of green spaces amidst expanding grey infrastructure. 
• Only a collective commitment can ensure that India’s cities remain breathable, biodiverse, and livable for future generations.

Source: TH