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Felling of trees: Committee submits report in Supreme Court; suggests shift from afforestation to ecological restoration

As per the report, there is a dearth of scientific studies in the Indian context on valuing trees using the benefit-based approach. Hence, the Committee has suggested valuing trees based on the cost-based approach of transplantation and substitution, using the trunk formula with the species, size, condition and location as input variables.

On protecting PTNFL, the report has recommended that there is a need for a national model Act that will codify the functions, powers and composition of tree conservation authorities at various levels.

This Act will serve as a guide for amending the relevant State Acts by respective state governments. The Central government should expedite this process by sharing a model Act which the states can adopt as per their context, by amending their respective Acts in a time-bound manner.

Detailing on this aspect, the Committee has suggested that a State Tree Conservation Authority (STCA) should be constituted in each state and union territory. This authority will be charged with the explicit duty of protecting and acting as a custodian of PTNFL in urban and rural areas.

Also, a Local Tree Conservation Authority (LTCA) should be constituted in all urban and rural local bodies. State governments need to appoint tree conservation officers to man the LTCA and the STCA, and provide them with sufficient staff and resources to perform their duties effectively.

At all sites where compensatory plantation or tree transplantation of 100 or more trees/saplings have taken place, local tree committees (at ward or assembly level) comprising citizen’s groups, professionals and experts, shall be constituted by the concerned LTCA. These Local Tree Committees (LTCs) will be responsible for carrying out regular monitoring of all projects involving compensatory plantation or tree transplantation of 100 or more trees/saplings in their local areas and to certify their survival rate at the end of one year.

The Committee has also highlighted that trees also need to be prevented from harm from electric wires, cables, advertisers and the public in general. Trees are often strangled with metal wires and cables. Nails, staples and rods are hammered into trunks and branches, causing deep wounds. Advertisement pamphlets are pasted over their trunks, the report pointed out.

“A Model Act that assimilates all the above recommendations needs to be framed within six months by an Expert Group composed of relevant experts and anchored by the MoEFCC,” the report emphasised.

Source: Barandbench

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