The Forest Conservation Act (FCA) is a landmark Indian law regulating the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. Enacted in 1980, it aims to protect...
The Forest Conservation Act (FCA), enacted in 1980, is an Indian law that regulates the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, aiming to protect and conserve forests and their biodiversity.
It was enacted to check the rampant deforestation and indiscriminate diversion of forest land for developmental projects that were occurring prior to 1980, leading to significant ecological damage.
It refers to the use of forest land for any activity other than forestry, such as mining, infrastructure development, or agriculture. This requires prior approval from the central government.
The FCA mandates that any development project requiring forest land must obtain central government approval, often involving compensatory afforestation and environmental impact assessments, thus balancing development with conservation.