Authors:
Allan, A. and Y. Yasuda
Publication Date:
2011
Abstract/Summary:
While environmental protection and biodiversity conservation may be more prominently apparent in legislation, it appears that these strengths are undermined by qualitative problems that limit their effective application. Activities at the smaller end of the scale escape much of the regulation imposed on larger projects – for example, small scale mining requires no prior environmental clearance unless it sits within the 10km boundary of a protected area. The evaluation of projects requiring the felling of less than 40ha of trees avoid close scrutiny or the application of the factors that may limit the scope for felling permits. Statistically (Mines 2010), this means that 66% of licensed mines beyond this 10km buffer zone require neither full forest felling permits nor prior environmental clearance. The irrigation of sugar cane plantations, other than those linked directly to the construction of the big dams, are unregulated.
Resource Type:
White Paper
Source:
Live Diverse