Environmental Deregulation of Forests, Biological Resources and Offshore Aquatic Biodiversity

The document highlights major environmental deregulations introduced through three legislative amendments passed during India’s 2023 Monsoon parliamentary session: the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, and the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act. These changes deregulate 27% of India’s forests, weaken protections for biological resources, and reduce oversight of offshore mining across 75,000 square kilometers, prioritizing economic interests over environmental sustainability and community rights.

The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act allows commercial activities such as infrastructure development and eco-tourism in large areas of forest land, including those not formally recorded under government regulations. These changes legalize deforestation and disrupt ecosystems, putting biodiversity at significant risk. The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act deregulates the use of codified traditional knowledge and cultivated medicinal plants, enabling corporations to exploit these resources without sharing benefits with local communities. It also diminishes the autonomy of the National Biodiversity Authority, reducing its capacity to enforce fair benefit-sharing and conservation policies.

Offshore mining regulations are weakened under the Offshore Areas Mineral Amendment Act, which eliminates key environmental safeguards and monitoring requirements. Reserved offshore areas, once protected for ecological reasons, are now accessible to private companies, raising concerns about irreversible damage to marine biodiversity.

Critics argue these amendments undermine India’s commitments to global climate goals and biodiversity conservation. They shift priorities toward economic growth at the expense of sustainability, threatening ecosystems and marginalizing indigenous communities. Conservationists stress the need to restore oversight, empower local communities, and strengthen conservation frameworks to address these challenges. Without urgent corrective measures, these changes could lead to severe ecological degradation and the loss of critical natural resources.

Keywords: Environmental Deregulation, Biodiversity, Forests, Conservation, Resources, Legislation, Environment, Sustainability, Offshore Mining, Bio Resources, Deforestation