The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (FCA)

The FCA was formulated to arrest reckless diversion of forest land for commercial purposes.

• It restricted the powers of State Governments with respect to de-reservation of forests and use of forest land for non-forest activities.
• According to the Act, a State government or any other authority has no power, without the approval of the Central Government to-
  • De-reserve a reserved forest area
  • Authorise the use of a forest area for non-forest purpose
  • Clear a natural land of trees, for the purpose of using it for re-afforestation
• In the act, the term ‘Non-Forest Purposes’ here implies the breaking up or cleaning of any forest-land ....