1) India formulated its first forest policy in 1894 based on a report by Dr. Voelker. This policy focused on revenue generation and classified forests into different categories. It did not adequately address issues like shifting cultivation, forest fires, or biodiversity conservation. 2) The 1952 policy was India's first after independence. It aimed to balance land use and check issues like soil erosion. It classified forests into protected, national, village, and tree land categories. 3) The 1988 policy aimed to ensure environmental stability and ecological balance. It focused on meeting energy demands, conserving wildlife, and increasing forest productivity and tree cover.

1. Introduction to Forestry
(According to 5th Dean Syllabus)
Dr. Shailendra Bhalawe
Assistant Professor
Department of Agro-forestry
College of Agriculture, Balaghat
Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University, Jabalpur
(M.P.)

2. Indian Forest Policy
Just as an owner of any property issues instructions to
his manager to manage his property, in a particular manner,
similarly the Government of India issues guidelines to its
foresters to manage the forests of the country in a particular
way. These guidelines are in the form of a policy statement
and this statement is called National Forest Policy.
On the basis of Dr. Voelker report entitled"
Improvement of Indian Agriculture" the Government of
India formulated the forest policy of 1894. This is the first
National Forest Policy in India enacted under pre
independence era.

3. 1894 1952 1988 2016 2018
Agroforestry Policy
National Forest Policy
2014
National Forest Policy Draft

4. 1) India formulated Before Independent First Forest Policy 1894: On the
Recommendation of Dr. Voelker report.
Salient features of Indian Forest Policies 1894:
1.The main object of forest management is to promote the general well being of the
country.
2. The maintenance of adequate forest cover is emphasized for the preservation of
climatic and physical conditions and to meet the basic requirement of the people.
3.Government owned forest have been classified as follow:
a) Preservation forest: Forest whose preservation is required on climate and physical
grounds.
b) Commercial forest: Forest for supplying valuable timber and other commercial
products.
c) Minor Forest
d) Pasture Lands
4. This policy emphasis on permanent cultivation rather than shifting cultivation.
5.It gives importance to the fulfillment of the basic needs of the local people.
6. Obtaining maximum revenue is the main goal instead of conserving forest reserves.

5. Draw Backs:
1. It was formulated to satisfy the needs of the British
government.
2. It gives priority mainly to agriculture than forestry.
3. This facilitates easy diversion of forest lands for non-
forestry purposes.
4. No guidelines for research and training in Forestry.
5. Less stress in emphasized on the problems like shifting
cultivation, forest fire etc.
6. No guidelines on conservation and preservation of
biodiversity.
7. No specific provisions for management of wildlife.
8. Less emphasis is given on the management of catchments
and forest on it.

6. 2) National Forest Policy 1952:
It was the first forest policy of independent India, Which over
comes the shortcomings in the 1894 policy. This policy is formulated
on the basis of permanent needs of our country that are as follows.
1. Need for evolving a system of balanced and complementary land
use.
2.Need for checking the denudation in mountain region, soil erosion in
river banks and invasion of sea sands on coastal tracks and shifting
sand dune in deserts.
3. Need for the establishment of tree lands wherever possible.
4. To manage the progressively increasing demands (grazing, wood and
firewood).
5. Need for the sustained supply of timber and other forest produces.
6. Need for the realization of the maximum annual revenue in
perpetuity.

7. Main Salient Features:
1.The forest is to be for the maintenance of physical condition of the
country.
2.This policy classifies the forest as follows.
a) Protected forests are those forests which are essential for the
preservation of physical and climatic conditions of the country.
b) National Forest are those forests that are maintained and managed
to meet the national needs (defense, communication industry and other
purposes).
c) Village forest are those forests which are maintained for providing
firewood, small timber and other forest produces to local peoples and
grazing for cattle.
d) Tree lands are those areas through which the scope of the ordinary
peoples outside the forest is satisfied. These are essential for the
amelioration of physical condition of the country.

8. 3) National Forest Policy 1988:
The aim of this forest policy is to ensure
environmental stability and maintenance of ecological
balance for the sustenance of all life forms, humans, animal
and plant. This national forest policy is enunciated due the
following needs.
1. To meet the increasing energy demands of the population.
2. To obey the new directive principles and duties given in
the Indian constitution.
3. Constitutional amendments of 1976 and it stress on
environment.
4. Marked growth of forest based industries in this era.
5. Need for the guidelines on conservation of wildlife.

9. Basic objectives:
1. To maintain the environmental stability and ecological restoration
through preservation.
2. To check soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas and
mitigation of floods.
3. To check the sand dune extension in desert and coastal lands.
4. To increase the forest and tree cover in the denuded and degraded
lands.
5. To meet the requirements of the tribal peoples.
6. To conserve the natural heritage.
7. To increase the productivity of the forest to meet the various needs
8. To encourage the substitution of wood and reduction of wood usage
9. To create a massive people movement and minimize the pressure on
existing forest.

10. 4) Draft National Forest Policy 2016:
Reinforcing The Rights Of Tribals:
The importance of the new Draft National Forest Policy also
increases because it seeks to make critical changes in the present
system of forest maintenance. Currently, the Forest Rights Act, 2006
governs the management of the forests in India. The policy promised to
setup an analogous procedure for forest conservation as it proposes the
new Community based Forest Management Mission. Under the Forest
Rights Act, 2006 the control of the forests was handed to the tribals and
other dwellers who were traditionally dependent on the forests for their
survival. It restricted the role of the forest department who was unable
to conserve the forests in an effective manner. It was also the result of
the political campaign for the protection of the rights of tribal
communities. The 2016 policy could be termed as an attempt to bring
the equilibrium between the forest officials, conservation groups and
tribal communities.

11. MAIN FEATURES OF THE DRAFT POLICY:
1. The Draft Policy seeks to establish special committees at Gram
Sabha level for the protection of forests.
2. Another prominent characteristic of the policy is the introduction of
the component of ‘climate change’ in the preparation of the ecosystem
management plans.
3. It uses the term ‘Urban Forest Cover’ to refer to the community
parks, gardens and other green spaces in cities to be put under the
management.
4. It is crucial from the point of view of the increased pollution levels
in our cities.
5. Less forests in hilly areas:
6. Green tax on citizens:
7. Draft policy undermines the Forest Rights Act:
8. Forest management mission to facilitate supply to wood industry:

12. 9. Technology to minimize damage to forests:
10. Board to monitor management of forests:
11. Provisions for responsible tourism:
12 Climate change to emerge as important
factor in policy:
13. Purchase of wildlife corridors:
14. Maintaining urban forests:

13. 5) Draft National Forest Policy 2018:
The overall objective and goal of the present policy is
to safeguard the ecological and livelihood security of people,
of the present and future generations, based on sustainable
management of the forests for the flow of ecosystem services
In order.
To achieve the national goal for eco-security, the country
should have a minimum of one-third of the total land area
under forest and tree cover.
In the hills and mountainous regions, the aim will be to
maintain two-third of the area under forest & tree cover in
order to prevent soil erosion and land degradation and also to
ensure the stability of the fragile eco-systems.

14. The following objectives shall be guiding the National Forest Policy.
1.Maintenance of environmental stability and conservation of biodiversity through
preservation and conservation of natural forests.
2. Reverse the degradation of forest by taking up rehabilitation without compromising
its natural profile.
3. Improvement in livelihoods for people based on sustainable use of ecosystem
services.
4. Contribute towards achieving forestry related Nationally Determined Contribution
Targets (NDC’s) of the country.
5. Checking denudation and soil erosion in the catchments of rivers and the wetlands
through integrated watershed management techniques and practices.
6. Maintenance of the health of forest vegetation and forest soils for augmenting
water supplies through recharge of underground aquifers and regulation of surface
water flows.
7. Safeguard forest land by exercising strict restraint on diversion for non-forestry
purposes, and strict oversight on compliance of the conditions.
8. Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in the country through Afforestation &
reforestation programmes, especially on all denuded and degraded forest lands and
area outside forests.

15. Thank You