Forest Development in India:An Inter-State Analysis

The sustainability of life support system depends on preservation and conservation of forests. Forests play a significant role in sustaining earth's biotic wealth. Hence, a proper maintenance of forest resources is an important aspect of achieving sustainable development. This paper is organized in two dimensions. The first dimension analyses the development of forest conservation and preservation and legal framework in India. The second dimension analyses status of forests in India and their regional distribution, the extent of forest degradation, and their consequence on wasteland formation in different parts of the country. It outlines the statewise concentration of protected areas. It also analyses wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and area of forest regeneration and tree plantation. This paper concludes with some policy measures to achieve sustainable development in India.