NEWS

• On August 18, 2025, Haryana’s Environment, Forest and Wildlife Department notified its definition of “forest” following the Supreme Court’s March 4 directive asking states/UTs to define forests and start surveys.
• The Court mandated adherence to 2011 Lafarge Umiam guidelines, requiring GIS-based mapping of forest areas, zones, and wildlife corridors.

HIGHLIGHTS

Haryana’s Definition of Forest

• Land qualifies as “forest” if:
  • Minimum area: 5 hectares (isolated) or 2 hectares (contiguous with notified forest).
  • Canopy density: ≥ 40% (0.4).
• Officials claim this aligns with Supreme Court precedents and judicial expectations.

Why Environmentalists Object

• High thresholds:
  • The 40% canopy cover criterion excludes open forests (10–40%), which are ecologically vital in dry states like Haryana.
  • The minimum area requirement (2–5 hectares) is considered excessive; experts suggest 1–2 hectares instead.
• Aravalli exclusion risk: Narrow definition may leave large parts of the Aravalli ridge unprotected, opening the door to real estate projects, mining, and encroachment.
• Comparisons with Goa: Experts allege Haryana has “blindly followed” Goa’s restrictive model instead of tailoring to local ecology.

Legal and Policy Context

• Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980: Bars diversion of forest land for non-forest use without Centre’s approval.
• 1996 T. N. Godavarman ruling: Expanded FCA’s scope to include “deemed forests,” i.e., areas with natural vegetation irrespective of legal status.
• Estimated 25% of India’s forests fall under this category.

Key Concepts to Know

• Forest cover: ≥ 1 ha area, canopy ≥ 10%.
• Dense forests: Canopy ≥ 40%.
• Open forests: Canopy 10–40%.
• Tree cover: Tree patches < 1 ha, outside recorded forests.
• Core, buffer, eco-sensitive zones: Key layers of protected areas.