Centre plans revision of Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) guidelines

Why in News?

Recently, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has called for a review of the guidelines governing Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).

• Need for revision – To develop a more "flexible" and "site-specific" approach that balances conservation goals with local socio-economic "realities".
• Existing structure - Current ESZ guidelines are designed primarily with terrestrial sanctuaries in mind and often do not apply well to marine ecosystems.

In states like Himachal Pradesh, where approximately 65% of the land is already under forest or protected status, a rigid imposition of ESZ norms could hinder local development without proportional ecological gains.

Recent recommendations

• Flexible approach - A more flexible and site-specific ESZ framework is essential to encourage conservation, without creating unintended hardships.
• Several members and state officials flagged concerns over the negative impact of blanket ESZ provisions.
• Stakeholder involvement – The proposal involves stakeholder consultations, including inputs from state governments, relevant ministries, environmental experts, and the ESZ division.
• Complete prohibition - The notification mentioned a complete ban on mining activities within a notified ESZ.
• Developmental hindrance - The committee noted that the sectors most impacted by ESZ guidelines include mining, highways, railways, housing, and tourism.
• Unlike in protected areas, where compensation is provided during the settlement of rights, no such relief exists for ESZs.
• Inter-ministerial coordination - A formal inter-ministerial consultation has been suggested to solicit views from all the departments concerned, before finalising any changes in the guidelines.
• Preparation of notice - Following the discussion, the SC-NBWL directed the environment ministry to prepare a note on the issue.
• Submission of proposals - The final recommendations will be submitted to the committee for further deliberations.

Reference

Business Standard | Revision of eco-sensitive zone guidelines