Developmental threat 'single biggest threat' to forests:Ramesh

"They (forests) not only face the existential threat from encroachments...but they also face what is increasingly becoming perhaps the single biggest threat to Indian forests, which I call the developmental threat," Ramesh said at a seminar organised by FICCI here.
Referring to some examples like Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), where he had refused to give environmental clearances for various projects, Ramesh explained why his name has figured in most of the reported conflicts among ministers in the UPA government.
"These are issues that I think are very much in public domain today and explain the reasons why I am present in 9 out of 13 conflicts, according to one newspaper today," he said.
Speaking in the presence of Nobel laureate Prof Elinor Ostrom, Ramesh said environmental issues should be addressed "at a time when India is on high growth profile" and at a time "we need to sustain ourselves on this growth profile."

The Minister said encroachment threats, cattle threats and threat to common property resources like forest from people can be managed at the local level.

"But what can't be managed is this growth dynamic," he said. "And I think in area after area and forest area after forest area, this is becoming the critical choice."

Agreeing with Ostrom, who had earlier said the "institutional monoculture syndrome" should be avoided, the Minister said there was "danger of institutional monoculture when it comes to dealing with the problems of common property resources like forests."