New Delhi, March 11 -- The Supreme Court has sought response from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) over its new Green Credit Rules (GCR), a system allowing companies to earn tradable credits for tree planting.

Environmentalists, led by Goa-based Rainbow Warriors (RW) and People for Aravallis, argued the rules threaten India's forest conservation efforts and Indigenous rights.

The GCR allows companies to offset forest land diversion by planting trees elsewhere, earning credits they can trade. However, petitioners argue the system encourages "plant and forget" practices, with no guarantee of sapling survival.

"Companies can get credit just for putting saplings in the ground with absolutely no responsibi...