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Defining Forest for Conservation and Socio-Economic Development of India


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1 Himachal Pradesh, India
     

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There is no clear and comprehensive definition of the term forest in Indian Forest Act, 1927 or any other legislative tool of the country. Accordingly, attempt has been made to define forest based on what is contained in various dictionaries and encyclopedia, functions these perform, what is contained in various Acts related to forests and forestry in India and work being undertaken by Forest Survey of India. The different aspects taken into account by various countries and Multi-lateral organisations while defining forest has also been considered. The definition thus arrived at is based on canopy cover/density and height of trees along with nature of species contained in that area of land. Such a definition of forest would help in conservation of forests, utilizing their socio-economic as well as environmental potential, in tackling the menace of climate change and other environmental hazards. It will take us towards fast track socioeconomic development of the country which sometimes gets hindered due to faulty understanding and interpretation of the term forest and its application due to regulatory Forest Acts.

Keywords

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), United Nations Framework of Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP), Afforestation, Reforestation.
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S. P. Vasudeva
Himachal Pradesh
India


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  • Abridged Glossy of Technical Terms. Forest Research Institute. Dehradun.

  • Forest Conservation Act (1980) and Amendments (1988). Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. Govt.of India.

  • Food and Agricultural Organisation(FAO) of United Nation, 2010. Global Resources Assessment. http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/24690/en FAO,Rome.

  • Indian Forest Act, (1927).

  • National Forest Policy, (1988). Ministry of Environment and Forest. Govt. of India.

  • National Forest Policy Statement. (1992). A New Focus for Australia Forests. Commonwealth of Australia.

  • Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, (2006).Ministry of Tribal Affairs Govt. of India.

  • State of Forest Report, (2013).Forest Survey of India. Dehradun.

  • United Nations Environment Programme (2001). Forest Definition and Extent.

  • United Nations Framework on Convention of Climate Change, (2004). Website of the UNFCCC http://unfcccint.

  • Wildlife Protection Act, (1972). Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. Govt. of India.

  • W.P. (CIVIL) No. 202 of 1996 T.N.Godavarman Thirumilpad vs Union of India Supreme Court of India.


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  • Defining Forest for Conservation and Socio-Economic Development of India

Abstract Views: 201  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

S. P. Vasudeva
Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract


There is no clear and comprehensive definition of the term forest in Indian Forest Act, 1927 or any other legislative tool of the country. Accordingly, attempt has been made to define forest based on what is contained in various dictionaries and encyclopedia, functions these perform, what is contained in various Acts related to forests and forestry in India and work being undertaken by Forest Survey of India. The different aspects taken into account by various countries and Multi-lateral organisations while defining forest has also been considered. The definition thus arrived at is based on canopy cover/density and height of trees along with nature of species contained in that area of land. Such a definition of forest would help in conservation of forests, utilizing their socio-economic as well as environmental potential, in tackling the menace of climate change and other environmental hazards. It will take us towards fast track socioeconomic development of the country which sometimes gets hindered due to faulty understanding and interpretation of the term forest and its application due to regulatory Forest Acts.

Keywords


Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), United Nations Framework of Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP), Afforestation, Reforestation.

References