NATIONAL & STATE FOREST POLICY : ITS IMPLICATION

Author: Deepti Das
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5555/book.001.04

Abstract:
India has a sizable amount of forest land. Currently, trees and forests encompass around 25% (one fourth) of India’s entire land area. The largest state in terms of area with forests is Madhya Pradesh, which is followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra. Although the most recent study (India State of Forest Report 2019) revealed that the country’s mangrove cover had grown by 54 sq. km since the initial assessment, But it is regrettable that the Northeast saw a decline in its forest cover, as the most recent assessment revealed a 765 sq km reduction in comparison to 2017 data. The Forest Conservation Act was passed in 1980 to prevent indiscriminate deforestation and the conversion of forest land for industrial or construction use. The Act was revised in 1988 to make forest destruction prevention more easier. Every citizen has a fundamental responsibility to preserve and enhance the natural environment, including the forest and wildlife. According to Article 51A(G) of the constitution, the state must work to safeguard the nation’s forests and wildlife as well as the environment. According to Article 48 (A) of the Directive Principles of State Policy, the importance of forests cannot be overstated. From the timber we use for building to the air we breathe, forests are essential to our ability to thrive. Forests provide more than simply a place for animals to live and a way for people to survive. They decrease the consequences of climate change, safeguard soil erosion, and safeguard watersheds. Nevertheless, despite our reliance on trees, we nevertheless allow them to deteriorate. Since the dawn of time, forests have been recognised as an essential resource for the continued existence of all species on this planet. Historically, man used these forests as a haven and subsisted by eating the many fruits and vegetables they produced. As mankind advanced, we built sizable cities and industries to produce the necessities for our survival. Even then, though, there was still a need for forests. It shifted from being the primary source for ensuring human survival to being the primary source for businesses to deliver these essentials. Some communities have continued to maintain a fundamental and strong bond with the forest. Maintaining the health of the forest has therefore always been crucial. The irreversible destruction of standing forests is known as deforestation, which can occur for a variety of reasons and has a variety of detrimental repercussions.

Keywords: Benefits, policies, causes, weakness

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