Economy of the Management of Forests in India

Forests play an important role in the socio-economic scenario of any country, and this role is all the more pronounced in a developing country such as India. Unfortunately, the contribution of forestry sector to the economy has been considered only in terms of major marketable products, such as timber, thereby leading to neglect of this sector and low financial allocations for its development. The other major goods and services from the forests viz. fuelwood collection, grazing, tree fodder and MFP, also need to be valued, so that the contribution of the forestry sector to the national economy can be properly appreciated. Another vital issue is that of management practices that need to be adapted to present day conditions, when increasing human and cattle populations are rapidly degrading existing natural forests and plantations. The rather simplistic approach of joint forests management needs to be reviewed and proper policies and laws framed for management of the forests, with the assistance of the local villagers and other beneficiaries. The paper discusses the existing forestry scenario and future strategies of forest management vis-a-viz their economic importance for the nation.