India, March 17 -- The Supreme Court's order last week to ban tiger safaris in the Core area of Corbett Tiger Reserve, while permitting them in buffer and peripheral areas, represents a significant judgment concerning the conservation of flora and fauna. Also, it underscores the impact on the ecological services provided by forests, including their carbon sequestration potential. A three-judge bench led by Justice BR Gavai criticised former Uttarakhand Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat and former Divisional Forest Officer Kishan Chand for permitting illegal construction and deforestation.
The bench emphasised, "The tiger perishes without the forest and the forest perishes without the tigers. Therefore, the tiger should stand guard over the...