Skip to main content

Forest act

The history of forest acts in India spans from British colonial legislation to post-independence developments aimed at balancing conservation and community rights. Here is a detailed explanation:

1. British Era (Colonial Forest Acts)

The British established forest laws to exploit resources for revenue and industrial needs while restricting traditional forest use by local communities.

  • Indian Forest Act, 1865
    • Objective: To consolidate control over forests and timber for revenue generation.
    • Key Provisions: Empowered the government to declare forests as state property and exclude communities from traditional rights.
  • Indian Forest Act, 1878
    • Objective: Strengthened state control and introduced forest classification.
    • Key Provisions: Divided forests into Reserved, Protected, and Village forests. Reserved forests had strict restrictions; local access was limited. Allowed limited rights in Protected and Village forests. Criminalized traditional forest use practices.
  • Indian Forest Act, 1927
    • Objective: Replaced the 1878 Act to enhance revenue generation from forests.
    • Key Provisions: Codified existing laws and practices. Further strengthened government control. Regulated timber and forest produce trade. Penalized unauthorized use of forest resources. This Act is still in force, though amended after independence.

2. Post-Independence Forest Policies

After independence, forest policies aimed to balance conservation with community needs.

  • National Forest Policy, 1952
    • Emphasized increasing forest cover to one-third of the total land area.
    • Prioritized industrial and commercial use over community needs.
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
    • Aimed to protect wildlife and their habitats.
    • Established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
    • Restricted human activities in protected areas.
  • Forest Conservation Act, 1980
    • Enacted to curb deforestation and conserve biodiversity.
    • Key Provisions: Required central government approval for forest land diversion for non-forest purposes. Promoted afforestation and forest conservation projects.
  • Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA)
    • Recognized community rights over forests in Scheduled Areas.
    • Empowered Gram Sabhas to manage local resources.

3. Recent Developments

  • Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006
    • Objective: To correct historical injustices by recognizing the rights of forest-dwelling communities.
    • Key Provisions: Recognized individual and community forest rights. Allowed sustainable use, protection, and management of forests by communities. Empowered Gram Sabhas to make decisions about forest resources.
  • Draft Amendments to the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (2019)
    • Proposed stricter penalties for forest offenses.
    • Gave forest officials quasi-judicial powers, sparking concerns about excessive state control.
  • Current Policies
    • Focus on sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation.
    • Initiatives like Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) aim to offset forest land diversion by promoting afforestation.

4. Challenges and Criticisms

  • Colonial Legacy: The 1927 Act remains in force, and some colonial policies persist.
  • Conflict of Interests: Tensions between conservation efforts and community rights.
  • Implementation Issues: Bureaucratic hurdles in recognizing community rights under FRA.
  • Deforestation: Despite strict laws, forest land diversion for development projects continues.

Conclusion

India's forest acts have evolved from exploitative colonial policies to post-independence laws aimed at conservation and community rights. However, effective implementation and balancing competing interests remain critical challenges.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Geology and Tectonic. Indian Shield

1. Ch (Chattisgarh Basin): Chattisgarh Basin is a geological region in central India known for its sedimentary rock formations. It's important for its mineral resources, including coal and iron ore. 2. CIS (Central Indian Shear Zone): CIS is a tectonic boundary in central India where the Indian Plate interacts with the Eurasian Plate. It's characterized by significant faulting and seismic activity. 3. GR (Godavari Rift): The Godavari Rift is a geological feature associated with the rifting and splitting of the Indian Plate. It's located in the Godavari River basin in southeastern India. 4. M (Madras Block): The Madras Block is a stable continental block in southern India. It's part of the Indian Plate and is not associated with active tectonic processes. 5. Mk (Malanjkhand): Malanjkhand is known for its copper deposits and is one of the largest copper mines in India. 6. MR (Mahanadi Rift): The Mahanadi Rift is a geological feature related to the rifting of the Indian Pl...
Post a Comment
Read more

Geologic and tectonic framework of the Indian shield

  Major Terms and Regions Explained 1. Indian Shield The Indian Shield refers to the ancient, stable core of the Indian Plate made of hard crystalline rocks. It comprises Archean to Proterozoic rocks that have remained tectonically stable over billions of years. Important Geological Features and Regions ▪️ Ch – Chhattisgarh Basin A sedimentary basin part of the Bastar Craton . Contains rocks of Proterozoic age , mainly sedimentary. Important for understanding the evolution of central India. ▪️ CIS – Central Indian Shear Zone A major tectonic shear zone , separating the Bundelkhand and Bastar cratons . It records intense deformation and metamorphism . Acts as a suture zone , marking ancient tectonic collisions. ▪️ GR – Godavari Rift A rift valley formed due to stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust. Associated with sedimentary basins and hydrocarbon resources . ▪️ M – Madras Block An Archean crustal block in...
Post a Comment
Read more

Morpho-Tectonic Framework of India

The MorphoTectonic Framework of India refers to the combined study of the country's landforms (morphology) and its geological tectonic features. This framework provides insights into how geological forces have shaped India's topography over millions of years. Here's a breakdown of this concept: 1. Morphology: This aspect focuses on the physical features and landforms of India. It includes the study of mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys, rivers, and other surface features. For example, the Himalayas, Western Ghats, IndoGangetic Plains, and Deccan Plateau are prominent morphological features of India. 2. Tectonics: Tectonics deals with the movement and deformation of the Earth's lithosphere (the outermost rigid layer of the Earth). In the case of India, it primarily involves the interactions of the Indian Plate with neighboring tectonic plates. India is situated at the convergence of several major tectonic boundaries:     Collision with the Eurasian Plate: The most sign...
Post a Comment
Read more

Solar Radiation and Remote Sensing

Satellite Remote Sensing Satellite remote sensing is the science of acquiring information about Earth's surface and atmosphere without physical contact , using sensors mounted on satellites. These sensors detect and record electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that is either emitted or reflected from the Earth's surface. Solar Radiation & Earth's Energy Balance Solar Radiation is the primary source of energy for Earth's climate system. It originates from the Sun and travels through space as electromagnetic waves . Incoming Shortwave Solar Radiation (insolation) consists mostly of ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths . When it reaches Earth, it can be: Absorbed by the atmosphere, clouds, or surface Reflected back to space Scattered by atmospheric particles Outgoing Longwave Radiation is the infrared energy emitted by Earth back into space after absorbing solar energy. This process helps maintain Earth's thermal bala...
Post a Comment
Read more

Neighbourhood Operations

 Neighbourhood Operations in GIS? In GIS and raster data , neighbourhood operations look at a group of nearby pixels (not just one) to understand or change a pixel's value. Think of it like checking what's around a house before deciding what color to paint it! Why "Neighbourhood"? Each pixel has " neighbours " (just like how your house has nearby houses). Neighbourhood operations check these nearby pixels and do some calculation to get a new value. 1. Aggregations (Summarizing Nearby Values) Aggregation means combining values of several pixels into one. We do this to: Find the average of surrounding pixels Find the minimum or maximum value Smooth the map (make it less rough) 🧒🏻 Example: Imagine checking the test scores of 9 students sitting around you and finding the average score . That's aggregation!  2. Filtering Techniques Filtering is used to improve or highlight features in a raster image, just like f...
Post a Comment
Read more