LDF dilutes forest conservation provisions in manifesto

Kozhikode: Fearing backlash from communities in the hilly regions, LDF has revised key sections of its assembly election manifesto dealing with forest conservation and eco-restoration. The LDF state committee said that there have been some errors in the section dealing with forest conservation in the manifesto and released three revised sections. Environmentalists said that even the bare minimum provisions for maintaining ecological integrity of the forests have been done away with the correction. One major change is in point 50 (part I). The original version had proposed stricter regulations in buffer zones around core forest areas. Regulations there will be made more stringent and that eco-tourism will be permitted only in the outer zone under strict controls. This has now been replaced with the section which states: "Protected forest areas will be managed by taking into account the living conditions of residents. On matters relating to core and buffer zones, the state govt will place proposals before the central govt with public interest as the priority. Restrictions in buffer zones will be implemented with the confidence and participation of residents." Similarly, changes have been made in Section 729 of the manifesto, which said that all protected forest areas will be divided into three zones — core, buffer and manipulation zones — and that a buffer zone will be created around the core zone, with strict regulations enforced there. Instead, it now says that policies will be revised to ensure that, along with forest conservation, the lives and livelihoods of people living near forest areas are protected and that wildlife protection measures will be implemented in a manner that does not pose a threat to people, with priority given to their safety. It adds that strong pressure will be exerted on the central govt to secure, at the earliest, the President's assent for the Wildlife Amendment Act passed by the state assembly. Also, Section 730 dealing with forest management practices has been severely diluted. "In determining core and buffer zones, the state govt will submit necessary recommendations to the central govt, prioritizing public interest. In buffer zones, only reasonable restrictions that protect the livelihoods and safety of residents will be implemented, while scientific measures will be adopted to reduce human-wildlife conflict," the revised section says. LDF made the corrections after various organizations termed the manifesto as anti-farmer citing the proposed restrictions in the buffer zones. Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi (WPSS) president N Badusha said that even the bare minimum provisions with regard for environment protection have been diluted. "The corrections seem to have been made under the pressure of the encroachers lobby," he said.