Forest Conservation

Forest is the house to many living organisms. It is a precious resource provided by nature.

The organisms living in forests are interdependent on each other. Life in forests is governed

by factors like air, water and sunlight. There are variety of plants available in most forests:

herbs, shrubs and trees depending upon the climate of the region. Plants make their own

food by the process of photosynthesis and animals depend on plants and other animals for

their food. Sometimes plants also depend on animals for processes like pollination and seed

dispersal. There are many forests spread over large areas across the globe. Forest can be

classified as: tropical, evergreen, partly evergreen, deciduous and dry forests based on the

climatic conditions and types of trees present. Forests also comprise of non-living

components such as lakes, ponds, soil, rocks, etc. A forest is defined as an area forming an

ecosystem.

Forests are of great importance to mankind. Following are some points illustrating the

importance of forests:

 Forests help in maintaining water cycle on earth. Plants absorb water from the soil

through their roots. The process of releasing excess water by plants into the

atmosphere in the form of water vapor is known as transpiration. The process in which

water vapor from oceans rises and condenses to form clouds is known as condensation

and the process of moving clouds to land due to sea breeze is known as precipitation

and this eventually leads to rainfall. All these processes together form the water

cycle and hence forests play a significant role in continuing water cycle.

 Forests help in maintaining the temperature and oxygen level of the atmosphere.

Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis and consume carbon dioxide. Forests

being a huge reserve of plants and trees, they play a significant role in balancing

oxygen level in the atmosphere.

 Forests help in preventing global warming. Increased amount of carbon dioxide

(greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere results in greenhouse effect and thus

causes global warming.

 Forests prevent soil erosion. Trees present in the forests hold the soil particles

strongly with the roots and prevent them from erosion.

1. Bringing Rainfall

2. Preventing soil erosion

3. Minimize the effect of natural calamities.

4. Decrease in pollution

5. Provide food materials

6. Source of medicine

7. Natural resources like wood

8. Vacation and pleasure trips

9. Shelter for wild animals

10. Scientific research.

Conservation of Forest
Forests are the bearer of life. We depend on forests for our survival. The air we breathe in,

the woods we use, all are provided to us through the means of the forest. Not only this, but

forests also provide us with a livelihood; it is also a habitat for wild animals.
Forests are the backbone of the life forms and the life on earth sustained through them. It

maintains a complex ecosystem consisting mainly of trees that support many types of life.

How to conserve Forest ?

disappear. Not only this, the earth would come to an end if forests are not there to regulate

it.

There are several ways through which forests can be saved. If these methods are practiced

properly, the ecosystem would be balanced and can be saved –

 Regulated and planned cutting of trees

A regular check should be given on the number of trees that have been cut. A planned graph

should be made before cutting trees in an area. No extra trees should be harmed. In fact, a

reasonable number of trees should be allowed to cut.

By a reasonable number of trees, we mean that only those trees should be harmed that are

either dead or can be replaced. Planned cutting of trees helps in keeping track of the number

of trees that are required to be planted so as to replace the trees that have been cut.

 Forest fire should be controlled

The major loss of forests is mostly because of a forest fire. A forest fire can be of two

types, first, natural fire and second, man-made fire.

When the fire is spreading naturally, there should not only be a check on it but it should be

controlled as well. Man-made fire disturbs the whole ecosystem leading to the increase in

global warming.

Forest fire in previous times was initiated by the tribal people as an outcome of Jhum (or

jhoom) cultivation. But it was then practiced in a proper manner. Tribal people came back to

that very land where they set on fire and grow more trees on that land.

 The idea of Afforestation

This should be your moral duty if you are cutting a tree, you should grow a tree to replace

and compensate the environment for it. This would surely help in equalizing the number of

trees.

Afforestation can help to maintain an ecological balance as the number of trees that are cut
would be equal to the number of trees planted. This is a really good step towards a bright

future.

Even the future generation can see trees growing and would inculcate this habit of planting

trees. This can be really good for the earth as well as for humans as a moral figure.

 Unnecessary and Avoidable forest clearances should be checked

In the era of rapid urbanization and industrialization, clearing of forests just for the sake

of making another house, building or establishing an industry is pretty normal. The number of

trees that are taken down as a result of this is generally not even accounted for. The loss of

environment and deterioration of forests happen as a result of unnecessary forest

clearances. Therefore, they must be checked and avoided at any cost.

Many movements on part of people show instances that the conscience of People to protect

the environment is still alive. All that we now need is to make our governments realize the

catastrophe they will bring on our planet if unnecessary and Avoidable forest clearances are

not properly checked.

 The need to value forests and use its products responsibly

Sometimes we start taking things for granted without realizing that nothing lasts forever

and every necessity that we try to fulfill comes at a cost. With the reckless use of forest

products come unavoidable harms on the forest as well as the environment. Sometimes we

take cut of trees for logs but we forget to collect its limbs, foliage, etc which is then left as

useless debris.

At other times we cut a tree for its branches, stump and, foliage and leave the remaining

parts that are left worthless. This carelessness on the part of humans leads to irresponsible

felling of trees which in turn expedites the process of extinction of our forests.

Other important ways to conserve forests are

1. Passage of laws preventing the cutting of trees recklessly by the legislature.

2. Will of government to prevent Deforestation by educating people about the ill impacts of

extinction of forests on our environment.

3. Granting some sort of incentive to those people or organizations who are working towards

the conservation of forest.

4. Incentivizing tree plantation and promoting it on a regular basis.

education institutions and other responsible organs of our society.

6. Promoting research for efficient and proper use of our forests.

7. Inculcating the principles to value forests through education and promoting forests like a

tourist center. Promoting forests as a tourist place will help in protecting the forest as

well as adding to the economy.

8. Proper surveillance of forest.

9. Proper categorization of forests.

10. Economic utilization of forest resources.

11. Prevent any kind of environmental pollution that leads to damage to our precious

resources.

National Forest Policy

India is one of the few countries which has a forest policy since 1894. The policy was revised

in 1952 and again in 1988. The main plank of the revised forest policy of 1988 is protection,

conservation and development of forests.

Aims of the Policy

1. Maintenance of environmental stability” through preservation and restoration of ecological

balance;

2. Conservation of natural heritage;

3. Checking soil erosion and denudation in catchment areas of rivers, lakes and reservoirs;

4. Checking extension of sand dunes in desert areas of Rajasthan and along coastal tracts;

5. Substantially increasing forest/tree cover through massive afforestation and social

forestry programmes;

6. Taking steps to meet requirements of fuel, wood, fodder, minor forest produce, soil and

timber of rural and tribal populations;

7. Increasing productivity of forests to meet the national needs;

8. Encouraging efficient utilisation of forest produce and optimum substitution of wood; and
9. Taking steps to create massive people’s movement with involvement of women to achieve

the objectives and minimise pressure on existing forests.

Provisions of the National Forest Policy (NFP), 2018

Forest Policy 2018 in March, 2018. The new forest policy aims to address the new realities –

climate change, human-animal conflict and declining green cover. The following are the

provisions under National Forest Policy (NFP), 2018.

 Target of 33% of India’s geographical area under forest and tree cover and in the

hills and mountainous regions.

 Maintain two-thirds of the area under forest and tree cover.

 Restrict schemes and projects which interfere with forests,

 Stabilize ecologically sensitive catchment areas with suitable soil and water

conservation measures, and also by planting suitable trees and grass like bamboo.

 Compensatory Afforestation Fund will be a major source of funds for taking up

afforestation and rehabilitation works.

 Funds from other national sectors like rural development, tribal affairs, national

highways, railways, coal, mines, power, etc., will be taken for appropriate

implementation of linking greening with infrastructure and other development

activities.

 Setting up of two national-level bodies, National Community Forest Management (CFM)

Mission and National Board of Forestry (NBF)

 It is to be headed by the central minister in charge of forests.

 Establish State boards of forestry for ensuring inter-sectoral convergence,

simplification of procedures, conflict resolution, among other things

 It is to be headed by state ministers in charge of forests.

 Threats to Forests due to encroachments, illegal tree fellings, forests fires, invasive

weeds, grazing, etc. will be addressed within the framework of the approved Working

Plan/Management Plan and also by ensuring community participation in forest

management.
 Development of Public-private participation models for undertaking afforestation and

reforestation activities in degraded forest areas and forest areas available with

forest development corporations and outside forests.

 Achieve harmonization between policies and laws like Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006.

 Establish National Community Forest Management (CFM) Mission.

 This mission will have a legal basis and an enabling operational framework.

 The national, state and local level development programmes shall be converged.

 All efforts to ensure synergy between gram sabha & JFMC (Joint Forest Management

Committee) will be taken for ensuring successful community participation in forest

management.

 Promotion of trees outside forests and urban greens taken up in “mission mode”.

 Safeguard ecosystems from forest fires, map the vulnerable areas and develop and

strengthen early warning systems and methods to control fire, based on remote

sensing technology and community participation.

 Climate change concerns will be factored in all the forest and wildlife areas

working/management plans and Community Ecosystem Management Plans.

 Identify and protection of wildlife rich areas and corridors outside protected areas

for ensuring ecological and genetic continuity.

 Short-term and long-term actions to tackle rising human-wildlife conflict.