Mining, Forestry and Human Rights Governance - Restoring the Lost Balance

ABSTRACT. The evil of neo-liberalism lies in its Washington consensus model which renders redundant the notion and praxis of sustainability. Environment has been worst hit by the arbitrary growth of industry; unfortunately, it has been accepted as natural fallout of progress until now when the issue of human rights has been read into the worsening climate. This essay vies for introducing corporate social responsibility and free, prior and informed consent into the convergence of environmental sustainability and human rights.Keywords: Environment, neoliberalism, sustainability, human rights, forestryIntroductionRight to wholesome environment is gradually spreading its sinews as an 'emergent human right,'1 with recognition being granted at both national and international levels. Economic activity juxtaposed with human rights is embedded in the model of development. No longer can we say that destruction of ecology is an inevitable consequence of progress, which largely includes urbanization and industrialization, because 'sustainable development'2 is the answer. The study of environment is no more solely about conservation of our surroundings for aesthetic reasons;3 it is 'a question of survival.'4 Among its various other components, forests occupy a significant niche in any environment. Marcus Colchester had remarked, 'Deforestation, in other words, is an expression of social injustice.'5 Despite the prevailing notion that forestry as a 'science' and 'practice' originated in the Western Europe and further advanced in North America, the principles of forest conservation and sustainable management were well-entrenched in the pre-historic oriental literatures.6 However, unfortunately, due to the indiscriminate thumping of the Brobdingnagian mega-machine of our hightech planet significance of forestry has reduced considerably bringing down all the collateral ills of such ignorance, arrogance combined with recklessness of human race.A call to save the forestryThe problem lies in the fact that we assume each and every working element to be competitive. In our run to achieve the short term goals we often overlook the fact that if the natural environment is compromised, then basic and necessary resources for human life, such as air, water and food would also be periled.7 'Environmental integrity, economic prosperity and social equity'8 must define the development paradigm today. The aim is definitely not to form a society of angels but to constitute a society of individuals who are well aware of the consequences of their actions. The nonpareil qualities of forests range from maintaining diversity to sustaining productivity.9 Economic progress and human wellbeing are dependent on healthy forests. They serve as carbon sinks and stabilize global climate, regulate water cycles and provide habitats for bio-diversity while hosting a wide variety of genetic resources. Rush for foreign exchange from mining activities shrouds the fact that national wealth can also be earned by developing tourism industry. The economic benefits from forests, which are called 'complex ecosystems,' in terms of climate control, pollution abatement, and wildlife maintenance, have rarely been calculated.10 Though study of the significance of forests has been amply executed, the report of UNCED, 1992 comprehensively forms the Magna Carta of 'Forest Principles' which boldly state that the management and sustainability of forestry is indeed important because of its social, economic, ecological, cultural, and spiritual needs of future and present generations.11Mining - a new tool for exploitation of natural resourcesNature and history are two components of the environment in which we live, move and prove ourselves.12 Even before the prick of neo-liberalism could be felt, rampant colonization had distorted the image of sustainable development in many of the countries. A paradox can be noticed with respect to India; the idea of 'reserve forest' was imported in the land by the British, but the motive by which they were guided was basically cessation of the appropriation of teakwood by the natives so that the same could be used for manufacturing ships and building slippers for railways. …