FOREST POLICY AND LAW OF CONSERVATION OF FOREST
Forests are a renewable source and contribute substantially to economic development. They play a major role in enhancing the quality of environment. The country has an area of 6,78,333 sq. km. notified as forests which represents 20.64 per cent of geographic area. Out of this, very dense forest constitutes 51,285 sq. km. (1.56%), moderately dense forest constitutes 3,39,379 sq. km. (10.32%) and open 2,87,669 sq. km. (8.76%).
FOREST POLICY AND LAW
India is one of the few countries which has a forest policy since 1894. It was revised in 1952 and again in 1988. The main plank of the Forest Policy of 1988 is protection, conservation and development of forest. Its aims are:
(i) maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and restoration of ecological balance;
(ii) conservation of natural heritage;
(iii) check on soil erosion and denudation in catchment area of rivers, lakes and reservoirs;
(iv) check on extension of sand dunes in desert areas of Rajasthan and along coastal tracts;
(v) substantial increase in forest tree cover through massive afforestation and social forestry programmes;
(vi) steps to meet requirements of fuelwood, fodder, minor forest produce and soil timber of rural and tribal populations;
(vii) increase in productivity of forest to meet the national needs;
(viii) encouragement of efficient utilisation of forest produce and optimum substitution of wood and;
(ix) steps to create massive people’s movement with involvement of women to achieve the objectives and minimise pressure on existing forests.
India is one of the few countries which has a forest policy since 1894. It was revised in 1952 and again in 1988. The main plank of the Forest Policy of 1988 is protection, conservation and development of forest. Its aims are:
(i) maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and restoration of ecological balance;
(ii) conservation of natural heritage;
(iii) check on soil erosion and denudation in catchment area of rivers, lakes and reservoirs;
(iv) check on extension of sand dunes in desert areas of Rajasthan and along coastal tracts;
(v) substantial increase in forest tree cover through massive afforestation and social forestry programmes;
(vi) steps to meet requirements of fuelwood, fodder, minor forest produce and soil timber of rural and tribal populations;
(vii) increase in productivity of forest to meet the national needs;
(viii) encouragement of efficient utilisation of forest produce and optimum substitution of wood and;
(ix) steps to create massive people’s movement with involvement of women to achieve the objectives and minimise pressure on existing forests.
Under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, prior approval of the Central Government is required for diversion of forest lands for non-forest purposes. Since the enactment of the Act, the rate of diversion of forest land has come down to around 25,000 hectares per annum from 1.43 lakh hectares per annum, before 1980.
In 1990, the Government issued guidelines to involve the village communities in the development and protection of degraded forests on the basis of their taking a share of the instruct from such areas. The concept of Joint Forest Management (JFM) was accordingly initiated. The JFM programme was pursued vigorously and as a result JFM resolution has now been adopted in all the 28 states. Total 84,632 JFM committees have been formed and 17.33 million hectares forest area have been brought under JFM programme. About 85.28 lakh families are involved in the programme all over the country.
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