Lecture-5
National Forest Policy, 1988
1. PREAMBLE
1.1. In Resolution No.13/52/F, dated the 12th May, 1952, the Government of India inthe
erstwhile Ministry of Food and Agriculture enunciated a Forest Policy to befollowed in the
management of State Forests in the country. However, over theyears,* forests in the country
have suffered serious depletion. This is attributable torelentless pressures arising from ever-
increasing demand for fuel-wood, fodder andtimber; inadequacy of protection measures;
diversion of forest lands to non-forestuses without ensuring compensatory afforestation and
essential environmentalsafeguards; and the tendency to look upon forests as revenue earning
resource.The need to review the situation and to evolve, for the future, a new strategy of
forestconservation has become imperative. Conservation includes preservation,maintenance,
sustainable utilization, restoration, and enhancement of the naturalenvironment. It has thus
become necessary to review and revise the National ForestPolicy.
2. BASIC OBJECTIVES
2.1 The basic objectives that should govern the National Forest Policy - are thefollowing:
(a)Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and, wherenecessary, restoration
of the ecological balance that has been adverselydisturbed by serious depletion of the forests of
the country.
(b)Conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remainingnatural forests with
the vast variety of flora and fauna, which represent theremarkable biological diversity and genetic
resources of the country?
© Checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas of rivers, lakes,reservoirs in the
"interest of soil and water conservation, for mitigating floodsand droughts and for the retardation
of siltation of reservoirs.
(d)Checking the extension of sand-dunes in the desert areas of Rajasthan andalong the coastal
tracts.
(e)Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in the country through massiveafforestation and
social forestry programmes, especially on all denuded, degraded and unproductive lands.
(f)Meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce and smalltimber of the
rural and tribal populations.
(g)Increasing the productivity of forests to meet essential national needs.
(h)Encouraging efficient utilization of forest produce and maximizing substitutionof wood.
(i) Creating a massive people's movement with the involvement of women, forachieving these
objectives and to minimise pressure on existing forests.
2.2 The principal aim of Forest Policy must be to ensure environmental stability andmaintenance
of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which is vitalfor sustenance of all
lifeforms, human, animal and plant. The derivation of directeconomic benefit must be
subordinated to this principal aim.
3. ESSENTIALS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT
3.1 Existing forests and forest lands should be fully protected and -their productivityimproved.
Forest and vegetal cover should be increased rapidly on hill slopes, incatchment areas of rivers,
lakes and reservoirs and ocean shores and, on semi-arid,and desert tracts.
3.2 Diversion of good and productive agricultural lands to forestry should bediscouraged in view
of the need for increased food production.
3.3 For the conservation of total biological diversity, the network of national parks, sanctuaries,
biosphere reserves and other protected areas should be strengthenedand extended adequately.
National Forest Policy, 1988
1. PREAMBLE
1.1. In Resolution No.13/52/F, dated the 12th May, 1952, the Government of India inthe
erstwhile Ministry of Food and Agriculture enunciated a Forest Policy to befollowed in the
management of State Forests in the country. However, over theyears,* forests in the country
have suffered serious depletion. This is attributable torelentless pressures arising from ever-
increasing demand for fuel-wood, fodder andtimber; inadequacy of protection measures;
diversion of forest lands to non-forestuses without ensuring compensatory afforestation and
essential environmentalsafeguards; and the tendency to look upon forests as revenue earning
resource.The need to review the situation and to evolve, for the future, a new strategy of
forestconservation has become imperative. Conservation includes preservation,maintenance,
sustainable utilization, restoration, and enhancement of the naturalenvironment. It has thus
become necessary to review and revise the National ForestPolicy.
2. BASIC OBJECTIVES
2.1 The basic objectives that should govern the National Forest Policy - are thefollowing:
(a)Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and, wherenecessary, restoration
of the ecological balance that has been adverselydisturbed by serious depletion of the forests of
the country.
(b)Conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remainingnatural forests with
the vast variety of flora and fauna, which represent theremarkable biological diversity and genetic
resources of the country?
© Checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas of rivers, lakes,reservoirs in the
"interest of soil and water conservation, for mitigating floodsand droughts and for the retardation
of siltation of reservoirs.
(d)Checking the extension of sand-dunes in the desert areas of Rajasthan andalong the coastal
tracts.
(e)Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in the country through massiveafforestation and
social forestry programmes, especially on all denuded, degraded and unproductive lands.
(f)Meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce and smalltimber of the
rural and tribal populations.
(g)Increasing the productivity of forests to meet essential national needs.
(h)Encouraging efficient utilization of forest produce and maximizing substitutionof wood.
(i) Creating a massive people's movement with the involvement of women, forachieving these
objectives and to minimise pressure on existing forests.
2.2 The principal aim of Forest Policy must be to ensure environmental stability andmaintenance
of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which is vitalfor sustenance of all
lifeforms, human, animal and plant. The derivation of directeconomic benefit must be
subordinated to this principal aim.
3. ESSENTIALS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT
3.1 Existing forests and forest lands should be fully protected and -their productivityimproved.
Forest and vegetal cover should be increased rapidly on hill slopes, incatchment areas of rivers,
lakes and reservoirs and ocean shores and, on semi-arid,and desert tracts.
3.2 Diversion of good and productive agricultural lands to forestry should bediscouraged in view
of the need for increased food production.
3.3 For the conservation of total biological diversity, the network of national parks, sanctuaries,
biosphere reserves and other protected areas should be strengthenedand extended adequately.
