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The Environment Ministry on Wednesday issued revised draft guidelines for determining critical wildlife habitats as required by the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers Act, 2006,
According to the Ministry’s statement, the reworked draft guidelines “accommodate all genuine concerns based on feedback from a wide set of experts and stakeholders”.
The revised guidelines come two months after the Ministry was forced to withdraw its earlier guidelines on March 4 following the protests of wildlife enthusiasts, scientists and activists on the plea that it was meant to relocate thousands of tribal people from national parks and sanctuaries.
The revised guidelines aim at harmonizing the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and seek consensus on the protocol that will determine critical wildlife habitats within National Parks and Sanctuaries.”
The conformity with the Act is a mandatory requirement, said Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. He admitted that there has been concern that the earlier guidelines of 2007 were inadequate and needed to be substantially improved.
The Ministry said the ‘Implementation Protocol’ as per the revised guidelines is in no way intended to cause or force resettlement or relocation of Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers from National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, but to facilitate the determination and notification of Critical Wildlife Habitats following due process of law.
According to the Ministry’s statement, the reworked draft guidelines “accommodate all genuine concerns based on feedback from a wide set of experts and stakeholders”.
The revised guidelines come two months after the Ministry was forced to withdraw its earlier guidelines on March 4 following the protests of wildlife enthusiasts, scientists and activists on the plea that it was meant to relocate thousands of tribal people from national parks and sanctuaries.
The revised guidelines aim at harmonizing the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and seek consensus on the protocol that will determine critical wildlife habitats within National Parks and Sanctuaries.”
The conformity with the Act is a mandatory requirement, said Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. He admitted that there has been concern that the earlier guidelines of 2007 were inadequate and needed to be substantially improved.
The Ministry said the ‘Implementation Protocol’ as per the revised guidelines is in no way intended to cause or force resettlement or relocation of Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers from National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, but to facilitate the determination and notification of Critical Wildlife Habitats following due process of law.
