News Context: Belgium has become the first country in Europe to recognize ‘ecocide’ as a national as well as an international crime.
About Ecocide:
- It means unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.
- Ex: Deforestation, Ocean damage etc.
- Term was invented by American Biologist Arthur Galston in 1970.
- India is yet to make it an offense.
ORAN LAND
News Context: Communities, particularly those in western Rajasthan, are concerned about the state’s proposal to classify orans (sacred groves) as deemed forests.
- As per the directives of the Supreme Court, Oran, Dev vans and Rundhs as forest lands will be given the status of deemed forest.
- A sacred grove comprises patches of natural vegetation ranging from a few trees to several acres that are dedicated to local deities or tree spirits.
About Deemed Forest:
- The concept of deemed forests has not been clearly defined in any forest law.
- In the Godavarman Thirumalpad (1996) case, SC brought in the concept of ‘deemed forests,’.
- It means an area that wasn’t officially classified as forest by the government but looked like it.
