Goa State Forest Policy in the making, says Minister
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Forest Minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues yesterday informed members of the Legislative Assembly that the government is in the process of formulating the Goa State Forest Policy, highlighting the pertinent issues in forest vis-a-vis ecological, geological, climatic, socio-cultural and socio-economic conditions in the state.
Replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for forest, Felipe Neri said that the proposed policy would also underline the objectives and essentials of forest management and strategies to achieve sustainable management, conservation and preservation of natural resources of the state.
The Minister told the House that there was no illegal mining in the forest areas and in wildlife sanctuaries in Goa and that the state government had not permitted any mining diverting forest land for it without prior permission of the Government of India under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
He said the forest department is implementing various schemes to improve the quality of forest and during 2008-09, 16.1 lakh seedlings were planted by involving various stakeholders like schools, panchayats, NGOs, mining companies, etc by covering an area of 487.25 hactares.
This year also, the department will cover 342 hectares area, to improve the density of open forests. After the National Forest Policy, 1988, the emphasis had shifted from revenue generation to forest conservation.
The Minister claimed that the department had been successful in controlling poaching in Goa to a great extent. During last three years, the forest department had booked 22 cases under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
It is also proposed to set up anothe wildlife division for intensification of management in all sactuaries.
Earlier, the opposition members who moved their cut motions charged that the government had failed to ensure that forest and wildlife sanctuary is protected from onslaught of illegal mining and failed to protect wildlife from poachers.
They further said that the government had failed to improve the quality of forest and failed to mobilise revenue from forest activity and conservation.
