The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In New Delhi, a collective of former civil servants has called on the central government to revoke a recent notification pertaining to the Green Credits Programme. This initiative, introduced in October of the previous year, aims to incentivize voluntary environmental actions through a market-based approach. However, the concerned officials argue that the February 22 notification, which allows individuals and private entities to earn green credits through tree planting on degraded lands and trade these for compliance in forest land diversion, might facilitate easier acquisition of forest lands for corporate ventures. This, they fear, could lead to significant ecological degradation and adversely affect the livelihoods of numerous pastoral communities.
The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), in their correspondence to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, criticized the scheme for potentially enabling businesses to substitute land with green credits, a departure from the traditional requirement of land-for-land compensation. They warned of a potential reduction in forest land, foreseeing a future where dense forests might be diverted for industrial or infrastructural development, dubbing the new green credit seekers as potential ‘invaders’.
Highlighting the ecological and social ramifications, the retired officials underscored that forests are not merely collections of trees but complex ecosystems supporting diverse species and communities. The introduction of inappropriate plantation efforts in varied ecosystems could threaten the survival of many species and the traditional livelihoods dependent on these landscapes.
Labelling green credits as an outdated concept designed for monetizing natural spaces for corporate gain, the group expressed dismay over the notion of exchanging pristine forest lands for green credits. They suggested that if the government is genuinely committed to conservation efforts supported by the private sector, it should encourage meaningful conservation projects under corporate social responsibility laws, rather than facilitating transactions that heavily favor corporate interests.
