Context: As a measure to revive economy and generate employment the environment ministry had cleared projects in 11 states at a time when protecting the environment is absolutely vital. There is a need to strike ecology-economy balance to achieve far easier and higher growth.
Problems with the recent approved projects
Solutions to balance ecology and Economy
Money in the Forests:
Conclusion: Balancing forest and development thus provides a solution to recovery and sustained economic growth without the fear of future disruption by the pandemic.
Need of Forest cover: Only 4.9% of the total land is earmarked as “protected”, which is far lower than 17% committed under Convention on Biodiversity