In June 2022, the Supreme Court directed that every protected forest, national park and wildlife sanctuary across the country should have a mandatory eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a minimum ______ starting from their demarcated boundaries.
1 km
Understanding Eco-Sensitive Zones and Supreme Court Directives
The question asks about a significant directive issued by the Supreme Court of India in June 2022 concerning the establishment of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. This directive aimed to provide a buffer zone for conservation efforts and regulate activities near these sensitive regions.
An Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) is an area notified around Protected Areas, National Parks, and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create a kind of "shock absorber" or transition zone between the highly protected areas and areas with greater human activity. These zones are intended to regulate and manage activities near the protected areas to minimize their negative impact on the fragile ecosystem and wildlife.
In June 2022, the Supreme Court of India issued a directive stating that all protected forests, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries across the country must have a mandatory ESZ. The ruling specified a minimum distance for this zone.
The Supreme Court's order mandated that the minimum width of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) should be 1 km starting from the demarcated boundary of the protected area. This means that within this 1 km buffer area around the forest, national park, or wildlife sanctuary, certain activities would be regulated or prohibited to protect the core area.
The directive emphasized the importance of these zones for conservation and aimed to prevent harmful activities like mining and construction close to wildlife habitats. While the court set a minimum of 1 km, it also mentioned that a larger area could be designated as an ESZ if a statutorily mandated zone already exists and extends beyond the 1 km limit.
Based on the Supreme Court's June 2022 directive, the mandatory minimum distance for an Eco-Sensitive Zone around protected areas is 1 km.
Revision Table: Eco-Sensitive Zones Key Points
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) | Area around Protected Areas (National Parks, Sanctuaries) to act as a buffer. |
| Purpose of ESZ | Regulate activities, minimize impact on protected ecosystem and wildlife. |
| Supreme Court Directive (June 2022) | Mandatory ESZ for all Protected Areas. |
| Mandatory Minimum ESZ Distance | 1 km from demarcated boundary. |
| Higher ESZ Distance | If a pre-existing, legally mandated ESZ is wider than 1 km, that wider area applies. |
Additional Information on Environmental Protection
The concept of Eco-Sensitive Zones falls under the broader framework of environmental protection and conservation laws in India. These zones are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The activities permitted or prohibited within these zones vary depending on the specific location and the sensitivity of the ecosystem, categorized into prohibited, regulated, and permitted activities.
- Prohibited Activities: Include commercial mining, setting up of sawmills, polluting industries, establishment of major hydroelectric projects, commercial use of wood, tourism activities like hot air balloon rides, and discharge of effluents.
- Regulated Activities: Include felling of trees, establishment of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural water bodies, erection of electrical cables, drastic changes in agriculture systems, and boundary wall construction.
- Permitted Activities: Include ongoing agriculture or horticulture practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, use of renewable energy sources, and adoption of green technology.
The Supreme Court's intervention in June 2022 underscored the need for strict implementation and standardization of ESZ norms across the country to strengthen conservation efforts around India's rich biodiversity hotspots.
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