The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the draft National Forest Policy, 2018 in March, 2018.
The MoEFCC has noted that there is a need to revise the existing National Forest Policy, 1988 through integrating: (i) sustainable forest management, (ii) climate change mitigation strategies, and (iii) an evaluation mechanism to oversee participation of multiple stakeholders in forests.
Key Features of the Draft Policy
Eco-security: The country should aim to have a minimum of one-third of the total land area under forest and tree cover.
Forest Plantations: Productivity of forest plantations will be increased through scientific and technological interventions in order to encourage usage of timber.
Afforestation Activities through PPP: PPP models will be developed for undertaking afforestation and reforestation activities.
Participatory Forest Management: A National Community Forest Management mission will be launched to strengthen participatory forest management.
Financial Support: The budget of the forestry sector of the states will be enhanced proportionately to the allocation of central resources devolved, based on the Finance Commission weightage on forest resources of the states.
Institutional Framework: A National Board of Forestry headed by the central minister in-charge of forests and State Boards of Forestry headed by state minister in-charge of forests will be established.
Issues
The draft policy is silent on the subject of community forest management. It neither is harsh like its predecessor (which mooted ecological stability over participation rights) nor is lenient like Forest Rights Act, 2006 (which mooted community rights over forest produce).
The policy is also silent on the issue of farm forestry, forest fragmentation, poor compensatory afforestation regime, etc.
Solutions
The draft policy must be revised and all the above concerns must be addressed via ensuring community participation in forest conservation, revising Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) regulations, focusing on latest technological solutions i.e. allowing forest farming to forest conservation etc.
