The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (FCA) is a landmark legislation in India that regulates the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes and promotes forest conservation to maintain ecological balance.
The FCA comprises 5 sections without chapters. The outline of the Act is as follows:
| Sections | Title |
|---|---|
| Section 1 | Short title, extent and commencement |
| Section 2 | Restriction on the dereservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purpose |
| Section 3 | Constitution of Advisory Committee |
| Section 4 | Power to make rules |
| Section 5 | Repeal and saving |
The FCA aims to conserve forests and regulate deforestation. Key provisions include:
The FCA, 1980 is a legislation enacted to conserve forests in India by regulating the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes and promoting afforestation.
The FCA was enacted on October 25, 1980, and came into force on the same day.
The main objectives include conserving forests, regulating the use of forest land for non-forest purposes, and promoting afforestation to maintain ecological balance.
The central government, through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, enforces the FCA, with implementation support from state governments.
Section 2 restricts the use of forest land for non-forest purposes, such as mining or industrial projects, without prior approval from the central government.
Applications must be submitted to the state government, which forwards them to the central government for approval, often requiring compensatory afforestation.
Compensatory afforestation involves planting trees on equivalent non-forest land or degraded forest land to compensate for forest land diverted for non-forest use.
Yes, individuals or NGOs can file complaints or public interest litigations in courts to address violations of the FCA, often supported by environmental authorities.
The full text is available on websites like indialawacts.in or the official website of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
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The following sections are sourced from the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. This information is for educational purposes only; verify with official sources (e.g., India Code) for legal use. We are not liable for errors or consequences from use.