Syllabus: GS- III, Subject:: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management, Topic: Forest Conservation, Issue: Forest Conservation
Context- the Supreme Court condemned Uttarakhand government for felling trees in Jim Corbett National Park.
- The government took the action to promote eco-tourism.
Courts Observations:
- Court deems expansion of tiger safari as a distortion of conservation practices.
- It noted the case as an example of link between political corruption and environmental harm.
- It also questioned compatibility of ‘tiger safaris’ with conservation of forests.
- Eco-tourism, not commercial, should be priority in safari operations.
- Debate arises over safaris as local employment source versus conservation concerns.
