UPSC Articles
Review of National Forest Policy, 1988 advocated
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Forestry; Environment
In news
- Recently the Director General of Forests has advocated for the amendment of National Forest Policy, 1988.
- It is based on a research paper published in 2016 in the Natural Resources Forum, a United Nations Sustainable Development Journal.
- The research paper called for sustainable forest management based on certification and a policy characterised by restoration, conservation and production equally.
Key takeaways from the research paper
- There is a lack of reliable data relating to growing stock, consumption and production of timber.
- The potential of timber production from Trees Outside Forests (TOFs) i.e. grown outside government Recorded Forest Areas (RFAs) must be explored and tapped.
- Since the domestic timber production has declined and imports have increased manifolds. There is a need to review Export-Import Policy.
- The paper emphasized on revising the Indian Forest Policy to boost domestic production.
Important value additions
- India’s forests are currently governed by the National Forest Policy, 1988.
- The Policy has environmental balance and livelihood at its centre.
- Some features and Goals: (1) Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and restoration of ecological balance; (2) Conservation of Natural Heritage (existing); (3) Checking Soil Erosion and Denudation in catchment areas of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs; (4) Checking extension of sand dunes in desert areas of Rajasthan and along coastal tracts
- A draft National Forest Policy was released in 2019.
- The basic thrust of the draft is conservation, protection and management of forests along with safeguarding the interest of tribals and forest-dependent people.
