The first National Forest Policy was formulated in 1952 for management of forests of the country. The forests are a State subject but often it is found that the guidelines of the Government of India are followed by the States for management of forest resources.
The ecological complexes vary from State to State. The preamble of National Forest Policy defines the conservation of natural environment, which means preservation, maintenance, sustainable utilisation, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment or ecological systems of the land. But down the years, it has been found that forests are on a dwindling path with vast tracts of forests and eco- system having been lost due to various factors.
Recently, the Government of India intends to update India’s forest policy, which has practically become obsolete in the present scenario. The key promise of the policy is that one-third of the total land mass of India should be under forests or tree cover and in hills and mountainous regions, the aim should be to maintain two-third of the area under such cover in order to prevent erosion and degradation of land and ensure the stability of the fragile eco-systems.
Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Anil Madhav Dev in a written statement in the lok Sabha has stated that no time frame has been set up for formulation of a new forest policy and as of now, the draft version of the policy is not ready. From this it can be gauged to what extent and in what degree the Central Government is interested in a new policy for preservation of the natural ecological systems of India. The maintenance of one third of the land mass of the country in shape of forest cover or tree cover cannot be ensured in the present context. So, this has become necessary to review and revise the present National Forest Policy 1988 for the wellbeing of the nation.
The natural forest is the true ecological system maintained by nature having bio-diversities suitable to the system, but the tree cover is a monoculture created artificially by man in place of natural forests having no diversified life system. The Minister stated that the national goal is to have a minimum of one-third of the total land area of the country under forest cover or tree cover, but no time limit is prescribed to achieve such target. In every moment, our natural eco-systems, and bio-diversities of the land are depleting fast due to family management of eco-systems.
Every year there are new plantations of trees and a vast amount from public exchequer is spent for the purpose, but the result of such tree planting is not as expected.
As informed, the Government of India has given the responsibility to Bhopal-based Indian Institute of Forest Management to review and revise the existing forest policy in the light of increasing the forest cover for tackling the effect of climate change. For the first time since 1988, the forest policy and respective forest laws have become forward looking to meet the challenges of climate change. But before making any such drafting, an intensive field study should be made to make the draft self-sustainable and pro-people with a forward looking perspective.
If we take the case of Odisha, the State can be divided into five geo-morphological divisions. First is the hills and mountainous regions of the Eastern-Ghat, second is the valleys and plains, third is the coastal plains, fourth is the estuarine lands and sea-coasts and fifth is the riverine ecological complexes. These five geo-morphological complexes cannot be considered one and the same.
Every geo-morphological complex should be treated differently with respect to their sensitivities. So one-third forest cover formula for maintenance of forest of the total landmass of the country cannot be applied to all cases. Different norms should be applied for preservation and conservation of the natural ecological systems of different nature. The entire eco-system should be conserved and protected to meet the challenges of coastal disasters. So, we should be very careful to handle the sensitivities of every ecological system.
In case of riverine lands, the riverine ecological system should be rigidly protected to prevent flood damages and formation of back waters of the rivers and valleys. Recently, we faced devastation of cyclonic storm, “Vardah” in southern and south- eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh respectively. The importance of estuarine forests and the coastal forests can be calculated very well from the scale of devastation the southern State faced.
The coastal eco-system not only meets the challenges of climatic hazards, but also provides sustainable economic livings of coastal dwellers. All the river systems arise from the hills and mountains, including springs and water sources. So the whole catchment areas should be protected. The forest dwellers who are endowed with provisions of Forest Right Act should be associated actively for the management of forests and forests resources. The cottage industries as well as the forest based small scale industries should be given primary importance for the economic upliftment of the forest dwellers. Similarly, the Forest Acts and the rules applicable for the management of the forests and forest resources should be adequately strengthened for proper conservation of natural resources.
There are certain wood-based industries like paper mills, plywood industries, packing box and matchwood industries etc, which depend on the forests for raw materials. The aim of the revised policy should be for sustainable and efficient management of forest resources for all time to come.
Above all, maintenance of ecological balance is a moot question. The ecology is under threat due to mismanagement of forest resources. The Government employees who are primarily responsible for scientific management of forests and forest resources must be trained properly to deal with the emerging situation. The revised policy should have enough provision for the purpose.
Again, lagoons, lakes, reservoirs, springs etc and aquatic flora and fauna irrespective eco-systems should be brought under forest management policy so that the excessive exploitations of eco-systems can be checked. There should be enough scope for extensive study of genecology and research. The present National Forest Policy is very much silent on study of genecology.
So the members of Indian Institute of Forest Management, who are assigned with the task, should study the ground realities first before outlining the policy in general.
No protection measure can be taken successfully unless the forest policy becomes an efficient tool to achieve the objectives. The creation of massive people’s movement and inclusion of women for achieving the objectives are to be done rigorously. Now it is the time to evaluate the pros and cons of the National Forest Policy of 1988.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)