When was the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha? 

Key Points

• The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wed Mar 29 2023.
• This bill aims to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which provides for the conservation of forests and matters connected therewith.
• Such amendments are crucial for addressing contemporary challenges related to forest conservation, climate change, and sustainable development.
• Legislative changes ensure that the legal framework governing forest conservation is robust and capable of meeting the current and future needs of the country.

Additional Information

• The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 was enacted to provide for the conservation of forests and to regulate the diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes.
• It aims to balance the need for development with the need to conserve forests by imposing stringent restrictions on the dereservation of forests and the use of forest land for non-forest purposes.
• The Act has been instrumental in preventing the indiscriminate destruction of forests and has contributed significantly to forest conservation in India.
• Over the years, various amendments have been made to the Act to address emerging challenges and to strengthen forest conservation efforts.