Forest Policies in India

In India, policies on forest laws are developed and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) and its various other agencies, such as the Forest Survey of India (FSI) and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).

What is the First National Forest Policy in India?

The National Forest Policy of India, 1988, is the main policy framework for forest management in the country. It aims to ensure the ecological security and stability of the country, protect the environment, and meet the basic needs of the people living in and around forests. The policy emphasizes the need for the conservation and management of forests, the protection of wildlife, and the involvement of local communities in forest management.

Major National Forest Policies in India

A forest policy has been in force in India since 1894. The government's official participation in forestry started with the introduction of the National Forest Policy in 1894. The plan was revised in 1952, and the expansion of forests past their customary bounds became a priority.

Likewise, major national forest polices in India are:

The National Forest Policy 1894

The British Colonial Government adopted the first forest policy in 1894, which was intended for a custodial and timber-oriented administration. The following were its primary attributes −

• Forestry management was supported for the benefit of the country as a whole.

• Subject to the following conditions, the requirement of maintaining an appropriate forest cover was approved for the preservation of the county's climatic and physical conditions and for the satisfaction of people's fundamental needs:

  • Priority should be given to permanent cultivation over forests.

  • The satisfaction of local residents' needs should be provided at noncompetitive rates, if not for free, and it should take precedence over all revenue-related factors.

  • Only if the aforementioned requirements have been met should the recognition of maximum income serve as the determining factor.

The National Forest Policy 1952

The National Forest Policy of 1952 would be based on the most important national needs of India, such as −

• The requirement for the development of a system of complementary and balanced land use.

• The significance of maintaining control:

  • The deforestation of hilly areas

  • The invasion of sea sand along the coastline and riverbank erosion.

• The necessity of improving the physical and climatic circumstances.

• The necessity to secure an expanded supply of pasture, small wood, and fuel.

• The demand for a reliable supply of forest products, such as timber and other building materials, for use in sectors such as defense and communication.

• The need that all of the aforementioned criteria be met while also realizing the greatest possible amount of money indefinitely.

The National Forest Policy of 1988

The National Forest Policy of 1988 is guided by the following fundamental goals −

• Preservation of environmental stability by protecting and, where required, restoring the ecological balance that has been negatively impacted by the country's severe forest degradation.

• Protecting the nation's surviving natural forests and their diverse flora and fauna, which serve as a symbol of the tremendous biological diversity and genetic riches of the nation.

• Preventing soil erosion and denudation in the catchment regions of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in order to save soil and water, to lessen floods and droughts, and delay reservoir silting.

• Significantly increasing the country's forest/tree cover through widespread afforestation and social forestry programs, particularly on all deforested, degraded, and unproductive lands.

• Fulfilling the needs of the rural and tribal people for fire wood, food, minor forest produce, and small timber.

• Improving forest production to satisfy critical national demands.

• Promoting effective use of forest products and optimizing wood replacement.

• Organizing a large, women-led people's movement to achieve these goals and lessen the strain on already-existing forests.

The Draft National Policy 2018

The Government of India, in revamping the National Forest Policy, which was announced 30 years ago, announced the draft National Forest Policy Bill in 2018. The new draft strategy seeks to deal with contemporary challenges including climate change, animal-human conflict, and declining green cover. Through scientific interventions and the implementation of stringent regulations to safeguard these areas, the plan seeks to bring one-third of India's population under the protection of the forest. The draft's emphasis on the global concern of climate change is what stands out about it. Additionally, the draft suggests using public-private partnership models to carry out afforestation and reforestation initiatives. The draft provides for the safeguarding of the forest land by exercising strict restraint on diversion for non-forestry purposes and strict oversight on compliance with the conditions.

Conclusion

Likewise, several policies and programs have been implemented in India to protect and conserve forests, such as the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB), the National Bamboo Mission, and the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), which aims to increase forest cover and improve the quality of forests across the country.

FAQs

Q1. What does the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 Defines?

Ans. Along with the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 1981, the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, provide the legal framework for the implementation of the National Forest Policy. These laws regulate the diversion of forestland for non-forestry purposes, such as mining, irrigation, and industrial development, and they require prior approval of the central government before any diversion of forestland can take place.

Q2. What was the purpose of legislating the Forest Rights Act, 2006?

Ans. The Forest Rights Act, 2006, is an important policy in India that recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling communities and aims to provide them with access to forest resources and decision-making power in relation to their management.