National Forest Policy (NFP) 1988 envisages that 33% of the geographical area should be under forest or tree cover. Salient features of National Forest Policy are :
- Maintenance of environmental stability and restoration of ecological balance.
- Conservation of natural heritage.
- Checking soil erosion and denudation.
- Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover.
- Meeting the requirements of fuelwood, fodder, NTFP and small timber.
- Increasing productivity of forests.
- Encouraging efficient utilisation of forest produce and maximising substitution.
- Creating a massive people’s movement specially with the involvement of women.
Above points clearly indicate that NFP envisages overriding consideration for environmental concerns against commercial priorities.
The National Forest Policy 1988 (NFP) envisages that 33% of the geographical area should be under forest or tree cover. The objectives include maintenance of environmental stability, conserving natural heritage of the country, checking soil erosion and desertification, enhancing
forest cover, meeting fuelwood, fodder small timber and Non Timber Forest Product (NTFP) demands of local people and efficient utilisation of forest produce.
In order to attain the aforesaid objectives massive people's participation in the management of the forest resources has been envisaged in the NFP. Keeping above objectives in view the SFAP exercise has been undertaken.
Click for detail : NATIONAL FOREST POLICY 1988
