Compensatory afforestation for biodiversity loss in Nicobar is bogus argument: Jairam Ramesh

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Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, Krithi Karanth, CEO, Centre for Wildlife Studies In conversation with Gargi Rawat, Consulting Editor, NDTV at The Hindu Huddle, in Bengaluru, on June 5, 2026. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

To think you can deforest in Nicobar and manage its ecological impact by doing some compensatory afforestation in Haryana is a bogus argument, said Jairam Ramesh, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member, speaking at the session titled ‘From the Aravallis to the Nicobar: At the edge of ecology’ as part of The Hindu Huddle in Bengaluru on Friday (June 5, 2026).

Pointing out that Nicobar is a unique biodiversity spot, the former Union Environment Minister criticised the goverment is allowing clearing of forest areas that should never be deforested.

“Large parts of Central India, which is the rich forest bowl of India, are under threat… We are seeing loss of forests and biodiversity that is known and unknown in Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Nicobar,” he said.

Taking the example of the protests that happened against Bauxite mining in Niyamgiri, he said that in many parts of India, people feel attached to their lands not just because of livelihoods, but because of their cultural traditions.

“Democracy ultimately is about protecting the smallest of the small. If a particular community says that this is integral to my culture, then it is incumbent upon us to protect that culture. Because in India, unlike in many other parts of the world, when we protect nature, you also protect culture,” he said.

However, he also acknowledged that governments have compulsions to create jobs and attract investments and said that the tradeoff between environment and development has to be a democratic, give and take process.

“In environment and development, you cannot satisfy all sides. The only policy that works is balanced dissatisfaction,” he said.

“But going hand in hand means making difficult choices. There are certain situations where you will have to choose development be