“A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Introduction:
Forests are the green lungs of the nation which provide us various ecological services. According to the reports, the total forest cover of the country is 712,249 Sq.Km. It’s 21.67% of the total geographical area of the country[1]. And it covers 1.8% area of the total global geographical forest land. Forests cover 31% of the global land area[2]. There are various types of forests growing in various regions of the country. Humans and forests both influence each other in negative and positive ways. Forests and trees are the lifelines of our earth. Conservation, protection, and development of forests is essential in today’s world.
Forests play a major role in checking global warming and climate change. India has signed the Paris climate agreement along with more than 170 nations across the world. The Paris Agreement aims at cutting down greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming. It also aims to strengthen the ability of the countries to combat climate change[3]. Recently the nation was hit by cyclone ‘Amphan’ in the east coastal region and by cyclone ‘Nisarga’ in the west coastal region of the country. The country has also suffered various natural calamities. Talking about the forests globally, there is a link between the health of the Amazon and the health of the planet.
The amazon Forest covers about 35.5% area of the South American continent. The rain forests, which contain 90-140 billion metric tons of carbon, help stabilize local and global climate[4]. As we have been facing a problem of global warming and such natural calamities it’s essential to plant the trees and conserve them. For protection and conservation of the forests, it is essential to enact laws and reform policies. Currently, the nation is governed by the National Forest Policy 1988. India is aiming to increase its forest cover up to 33%.
National Forest Policies
India has developed a strong legal and policy framework for the Forestry sector for sustainable forest governance through National Forest Policy, 1988, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. National Forest Policy is governed by the government of India in accordance with the state governments. There are numerous laws and policies regarding forests being implemented since the British era. The effects of industrialization in the British period in the 18th century brought the growing demand for timber for the construction of railway tracks for commerce and trade.
Later growing dissatisfactions with the legal restrictions imposed by the previous legislation led to the formation of the Indian Forest Act, 1878. According to this, the nation-state was recognized as the sole proprietor of classified forest lands.
Traditional practices such as slash and burn, the gathering of forest resources were rejected as a basis for property rights. Then in 1890 according to the Forest Department resolution, previous rights of access and use redefined as privileges for specific tribes, castes, villages, and organizations. Then in 1927 Indian forest Act was enacted with few substantive changes over the 1878 Act. It remains the legislative basis for state forest management today.
The Indian Government adopted the 1927 Act after it gained independence in 1947. After 1947, in a post-independent era, National Forest policy 1952 was implemented in the country. It set out guidelines directed towards the supply of cheap timber and non-timber forest products for state-sponsored industrialization and modernization. In 1976, the Indian Forest Act was added to the concurrent list of the constitution. It gave responsibility to both center and the state to control the over the forest matters.
With the Forest Conservation act in 1980, the government reasserted some of its control over forest resources. It restricted the state government power to de reserve forests and restricted the use of forest lands for non-forest purposes. Currently, Forest laws in India are according to the National Forest Policy 1988.
National Forest Policy 1988:
The National Forest Policy 1988 focussed on ensuring environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance. It also included atmospheric equilibrium for the sustenance of all life forms.
Main provisions of the policy:
- It recognized the role of local people in forest protection and management of forests for achieving improvements in community livelihood.
- Maintenance of environmental stability through protection, preservation, and stability.
- Conservation of the natural heritage in the country.
- Checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas.
- It aimed at increasing the productivity of forests to meet the national demand of the people.
- Creating a massive people’s movement with the involvement of women, for achieving these objectives and to minimize pressure on existing forests.
- Increasing forest cover through afforestation and various other programs.
- The government has also assigned ownership of small forests to the people living in that area for collection, processing, trade, and marketing.
It’s also aiming to bring one-third of the land area under the forest cover. And in hills and in mountainous regions, the aim should be to maintain two-third of the area under such cover in order to prevent erosion and land degradation and to ensure the stability of the fragile eco-system. To meet the essential needs and services of the human from forests, the application of scientific and technical inputs as necessary. Also, the rights and concessions enjoy by tribal should be fully protect. Beneficiaries who are allowed mining and quarrying in forest land and inland covered by trees should’ be required to repair and re-vegetate the area in accordance with established forestry practices[5].
There is a symbiotic relationship between tribal people and forests. There were family-orient schemes for improving the status of the tribal people. Specially in that area. Forest-based industries must employ local people on priority. Forest Management should take special care of the needs of wildlife conservation.
Need for an Amendment
The current national forest policy dated back when India’s economic liberalization had started. There is a need for an amendment in the policy, which is more than three decades older. Some provisions need to be add to the policy. The central government had tried to make progress by drafting a bill to amend the previous forest act. The key policies regarding forest management are missing.
One of the main problems which draws criticism, the central governments speedy pace of giving clearances of forest lands for the industrial work. But it came under heavy criticism from the society as it gave huge powers to forest authorities, including the power to shoot the people, which undermines the role of forest dwellers in the country. And later in November 2019, it was withdraw by the government. The new policy focusses on the international challenge of climate change. We have already signed the Paris Agreement.
Main provisions to be included in the amendment policy:
- To restrict schemes and projects which interfere with forest cover, catchment areas, and geologically unstable terrain.
- The policy continues its target of 33% geographical area under forest cover in the country.
- The promotion of trees outside forests and in urban greens.
- To achieve harmonization between policies such as the Forest Rights Act 2006.
- There will be public-private participation models for undertaking afforestation and reforestation activities.
- The compensatory afforestation fund which is being transfer to the states would be a major source of funds for taking up afforestation and rehabilitation works in degrade forest areas as well as for bringing new areas under forest and tree cover.
- Adequate measures would be take to safeguard the ecosystem from forest fires.
- The proposed policy aimed to safeguard the ecological and livelihood security of people, of present and future generations.
- It also addresses the issue of human-wildlife conflict. To tackle rising human-wildlife conflict, the draft outlined short-term and long-term actions. It mentions that quick response, dedicated teams of well-equipped and trained personnel, mobility, strong interface with health and veterinary services, rescue centers, objective and speedy assessment of damage, and quick payment of relief to the victims would be at the core of the short-term action.
- And It will set up two national-level bodies National, Community Forest Management Mission (CFM), and National Board of Forestry (NBF) for better management of the country’s forests.
- It also addresses the issue of water reservoirs.
- It also focusses on the international challenge of climate change.
- Regulations for the tribal people affected by the diversion of forest land due to industrialization.
Conclusion
Over the years the forests in India have suffered serious depletion. There is diversion of forest lands to non-forests lands without afforestation. Some people look upon forests as earning resource rather it is our lifeline which provides us oxygen to live and other ecological factors. Deforestation may lead to catastrophic sequences all over the country. We should understand the importance of the forests and preserve them. We are also facing a big problem with global warming. There is a need for an amendment of forest policy.
Over three decades several factors have gradually changed and now its time to amend the policy and bring in new laws and regulations. It should focus on issues of climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. These are the important factors that are going to play a major role in the modern era of industrialization. The conservation and preservation of forest wealth should also be take into consideration. The tribal people should not be deprive of their rights. There should be equality and liberty for these people also.
‘Forest once gone is gone forever’.
‘Don’t be greedy, it’s time to be greeny’.
References:
[1] http://ddnews.gov.in/national/union-environment-minister-prakash-javadekar-releases-india-state-forest-report-2019
[2] http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/2020/en/
[3] https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
[4] https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/amazon
[5] http://asbb.gov.in/Downloads/National%20Forest%20Policy.pdf
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