23 May Urban Forests at Risk: Legal, Environmental, and Developmental Perspectives
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the Topic Urban Forests at Risk: Legal, Environmental, and Developmental Perspectives
SYLLABUS MAPPING:
GS-3- Science and technology-Urban Forests at Risk: Legal, Environmental, and Developmental Perspectives
FOR PRELIMS
What are urban forests? What are the main laws that protect forests in India?
FOR MAINS
What are the benefits of urban forests for people and the environment?
Why in the News?
One of Hyderabad’s last remaining urban forests, Kancha Gachibowli, faced the threat of extinction when the Telangana government decided to give away 400 acres of its land for industrial development. Justifying its move by claiming ownership over the forest, the government alleged that protesting students were misled by real estate interests. However, the Supreme Court took cognisance of the felling of 100 acres of trees and reprimanded the State government. This issue highlighted the vulnerability of urban forests and environmentally insensitive models of urban development.
Why Urban Forests Matter
| Category | Key Benefits |
|---|---|
| Environmental | – Improve air quality by filtering pollutants (PM2.5, NOx, CO₂) |
| – Mitigate urban heat island effect | |
| – Sequester carbon, reducing greenhouse gases | |
| – Absorb rainwater, reduce urban flooding | |
| Health & Well-being | – Lower respiratory and cardiovascular diseases |
| – Provide spaces for recreation and mental wellness | |
| – Act as noise buffers in busy urban settings | |
| Ecological | – Support urban biodiversity (birds, insects, small mammals) |
| – Function as mini-ecosystems, improve soil and water cycles | |
| Urban Sustainability | – Enhance climate resilience and disaster preparedness |
| – Align with smart city and green infrastructure goals |
Major Urban Forests in India
| Urban Forest Name | City | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Kancha Gachibowli | Hyderabad | One of the city’s last remaining patches; currently threatened by urban expansion. |
| Aarey Forest | Mumbai | An ecologically sensitive area, key for biodiversity and air quality, despite controversies over development. |
| Delhi Ridge & Neela Hauz | Delhi | Offers a green lung to the national capital, critical for recreational and environmental functions; judicial interventions help protect these areas. |
| Turahalli Forest | Bengaluru | A valued natural enclave amidst rapid urbanization, noted for its biodiversity and recreational use. |
| Pol Ka Baadli | Jaipur | Serves as an important green space in the city, contributing to urban ecological balance. |
Government Initiatives for Urban Forests
Judicial and Legal Interventions in Urban Forest Conservation
1. Judicial Activism & PILs: Courts actively protect urban forests through Public Interest Litigations filed by concerned citizens and civil society groups.
2. Supreme Court Intervention: In the Kancha Gachibowli case, the Supreme Court reprimanded the Telangana government, highlighting its role in enforcing environmental accountability.
3. Check on Executive Actions: The judiciary acts as a watchdog over executive decisions that harm ecological balance, ensuring public interest is upheld.
4. Environment Protection Act, 1986: Provides a legal framework to regulate and prevent activities that damage forests and the environment.
5. Forest Conservation Act, 1980: Restricts diversion of forest land for non-forest use without central approval, safeguarding forest areas.
6. Judicial Guidelines: Courts have issued key directives to prevent tree felling and illegal encroachments in urban forest areas.
7. Constitutional Support: Article 48A of the Directive Principles directs the State to protect and improve the environment.
8. Sustainable Development Focus: Legal interventions help balance urban growth with ecological preservation, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Threats to Urban Forests
1. Rapid Urbanisation: Expansion of cities leads to the conversion of forest lands into residential, commercial, and industrial areas.
2. Infrastructure Development: Construction of roads, flyovers, metro lines, and industrial parks often involves clearing large green areas.
3. Encroachments: Illegal settlements, slums, and unauthorised constructions reduce forest cover and disturb biodiversity.
4. Pollution: Air, noise, and water pollution from surrounding urban activities degrade the health of urban forest ecosystems.
5. Tree Felling and Logging: Unregulated cutting of trees for fuelwood, construction, or land clearance threatens forest sustainability.
6. Invasive Species: Introduction of non-native plant species disrupts the natural composition and health of the forest ecosystem.
7. Lack of Legal Protection and Poor Enforcement: Many urban forests are not classified as protected forests, making them vulnerable to exploitation and weak regulatory oversight.
8. Climate Change: Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and extreme weather events stress forest health and alter native biodiversity.
9. Real Estate Pressure: High land value in urban areas increases the temptation to convert forested land into profitable ventures.
Way Forward for Urban Forest Conservation
1. Legal Protection Status: Designate urban forests as protected areas under relevant forest and environmental laws to ensure long-term security.
2. Integrated Urban Planning: Include urban forests in city master plans and zoning regulations to prevent encroachments and unplanned development.
3. Strict Enforcement of Laws: Strengthen implementation of the Environment Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, and judicial guidelines.
4. Community Participation: Involve local residents, RWAs, and student groups in protection, monitoring, and afforestation efforts.
5. Urban Afforestation Drives: Promote native species plantation in degraded urban spaces, including buffer zones and wastelands.
6. Use of Technology: Employ GIS, satellite imagery, and drone monitoring for forest mapping, encroachment detection, and conservation tracking.
7. Green Incentives: Provide incentives to developers for creating green infrastructure and preserving forest cover in urban projects.
8. Awareness and Education: Launch campaigns in schools and communities to build awareness on the ecological, health, and climate benefits of urban forests
Conclusion
The Kancha Gachibowli episode underscores the urgent need to re-evaluate urban development paradigms that prioritise short-term economic gains over long-term ecological stability. Urban forests are not just green patches—they are vital ecosystems that enhance climate resilience, safeguard public health, support biodiversity, and provide psychological comfort amidst concrete jungles. Judicial interventions, as seen in this case, play a crucial role in upholding environmental justice and enforcing accountability. However, sustainable conservation demands more than reactive legal measures—it requires proactive governance, community engagement, and a vision that integrates nature into urban planning. Protecting urban forests is not just an environmental imperative but a developmental necessity for India’s future cities.
Download Plutus IAS Current Affairs (Eng) 23rd May 2025
Prelims Questions
Q. Consider the following statements regarding urban forests in India:
1. Urban forests help mitigate the urban heat island effect.
2. The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 allows diversion of forest land for any purpose without Central government approval.
3. Urban forests play a significant role in flood mitigation in cities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Mains Questions
Q. Urban forests are vital to the environmental and ecological balance of expanding Indian cities, yet they remain vulnerable to development pressures and weak legal protection. Discuss the importance of urban forests, major threats to their existence, and suggest measures for their conservation.
(250 words, 15 marks)
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