National Forest Policy, 1988

National Forest Policy aims to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which is vital for sustenance of all life forms.

Objectives: Maintenance of environmental stability and maintaining ecological balance by preservation and restoration of the forests resources of the country.

• Conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests with the vast variety of flora and fauna and protecting the biodiversity of India in these forests.
• Checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchments areas of rivers, lakes, reservoirs in the for soil and water conservation, to mitigating floods and droughts and for preventing siltation of reservoirs.
• Preventing the extension of sand-dunes in the desert areas of Rajasthan and along the coastal tracts of India.
• Increasing the forest and tree cover in the country through massive afforestation and social forestry programmes, especially on all denuded, degraded and unproductive lands.
• Meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce and small timber of the rural and tribal populations.
• Increasing the productivity of forests to meet essential national needs.
• Encouraging efficient utilisation of forest produce and maximising substitution of wood.
• Creating a massive people’s movement with the involvement of women, for achieving these objectives and to minimise pressure on existing forests.