TABLEOFCONTENTS

S. No. Topics Page No.

1 CHAPTERI 5-7

INTRODUCTION

1.1.Deforestation:

1.2.Nexus Between Deforestation And

Environment

2 CHAPTERII 8-9

2.1 CausesofDeforestationanditsEffects
3. CHAPTERIII 10-19

SUSTAINABLEFORESTMANAGEMENT

2.1.NationalForestPolicy,1988

2.2.TheArabariExperimentsInJFM

2.3.WhySustainableForestManagement?

2.4.Criteria And Indicators Approach For

SustainableForestManagement

2.5.InternationalInitiatives

2.6.IndianInitiative

4. CHAPTERIV 20-22

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY
 CHAPTERI

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Deforestation:

Deforestation refers to the permanent destruction of naturally occurring forests and

woodlands,thecauseofwhichisnormallyimpliedtobehumanactivitiesprimarilysuchas
logging,cuttingtreesforfuel,slashandburnagriculture,clearinglandforlivestockgrazing,
mining operations, oil extraction, dam building, and urban sprawl or other types of
development and population expansion. This means that deforestation includes the
destructionofforests,inwhichthetreetopstoucheachothertoformacanopy,aswellas
woodlands,inwhichtreesarespacedfurtherapart.Butthetermdeforestationdoesnotapply
totheremovaloftreesfromplantationsorindustrialforestsplantationssuchasplantationsof
gumsandpines.

Thousandsofyearsago,forestsandgrasslandscoveredmostoftheearthsinceancienttimes;
Clearingforestsgoeshandinhandwithhumandevelopment1 graduallyhediscoveredfire
andstonemetalsforselfdefenceagainstwildanimals.About10,000yearsagoagriculture
wasdiscoveredandthatwasthestartingofthecivilisationfromthenonwardsmanhasbeen
adaptingtheenvironmenttomeetthegrowingneedsofcivilizations,fromthecuttingdown
of the first trees for fire, through to the clearing of woodlands to settlers to build their
homesteads,treeshavelongbeenatthemercyofman.2Inmanypartsoftheworldhugeareas
ofwoodlandsandforestshavebeenclearedoverthe centuriestobothprovidewoodfor
essentialpurposessuchasfuel,shipsandbuilding,and alsotofreethelandforotheruse. 3
Thenutsandfruitsofthetreesareusefulforhumanfoods,medicines,anddyes,andthe
roots,nuts,youngshootsandbranches(andtheflushofyounggrassafterburning)provide
foodforanimals.Thebiggestdriverofdeforestationisagriculturemeanwhilemajorityofthe
populationweredependantonagriculturalsectorfarmerscutforeststoprovidemoreroom
forplantingcropsorgrazinglivestock.Oftenmanysmallfarmerswilleachclearafewacres

1 http://www.ehow.com/about_5389808_history-deforestation.html., accessed on 10-10-2011.

2 http://www.scribd.com/doc/10307557/Definition-of-Deforestation, accessed on 15-10-2011.
3 http://edu.udym.com/the-history-of-deforestation, accessed on 15-10-2011.

2
tofeedtheirfamiliesbycuttingdowntreesandburningtheminaprocessknownasslash
andburnagriculture.4

Inthecourseoftimemandevisedscienceandtechnologystepbystepanddependedonthese
forimprovinghislivingstandardtheinventionofmetal,sawsandthenpowersawsgreatly
accelerated the ability to clear land. This became the prominent since the Industrial
Revolutioninthe1800s,forestshavebeenexploitedworldwide.5 Withthehelpofscience
andtechnology,manovercamethenaturalbarriersandestablishedthesupremacyoverthe
Nature.Hecantravelfromonepartoftheworldtotheotherpart,inamatteroffewhours,
undertakejourneytoouterspaceandplanets,divedowntothebottomofseasandexplorethe
wondersandsoon.Butatthesametimetheenvironmentbecamemoreandmoredegraded
andpolluted.Asaresultofmanmadeactivities(deforestation,urbanization,industrialisation,
etc.)thequalityofenvironmentsufferedwhichhasthreatenedthesurvivalofmanhimselfon
earth.

1.2. NexusbetweenDeforestationandEnvironment

Deforestationproblemisnotonlylimitedtoacityorstateorcountry,itisaglobalproblem,
itistheproblemoftheentirehumanity.Since1915effortsforformulatinghumanecology
aregoingonbuttodaytheentireglobalsocietyisbesetwiththeproblemduetotheworld's
rapidly growing population and demands on valuable resources the entire global society
realizedthatForestsarevitalforlifeonearth.Theyarenotjustthegreencoverweneedto
make the earth look beautiful; they have many functions integral for our survival and
sustenance.Theyfunctionasaresourceformanyaspectsofhumanlife. LifeonEarthis
heavilydependentontheforestcoverallaroundtheplanet.Besidesthefactthatthesegreen
wondersmaketheplanetextremelygoodtolookat,theyalsohaveagreatmanyfeaturesthat
are performed by them, most of them which are pivotal to our growth, survival and
sustenance.Fromthepointofviewofhumanlife,theyareveryimportantastheyprovidea
largearrayofresourcesthatweuseinoureverydaylifefromthisdiscussionaninferencecan
bedrawninthewordsof Einsteinwhoobservedthat,Theenvironmentiseverythingthat

4 http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview, accessed on
15-10-2011
5 http://www.ehow.com/about_5389808_history-deforestation.html, accessed on 15-10-2011.

3
isntme.Maninteractsdirectlywiththenaturalenvironmentandasaresulttheredevelops
aclosesetbioculturalbehaviourpatternswhichisseentobeintegratedwiththedailymode
oflifeofthepeopleconcerned.Thesesetsofinterrelationshipbetweenmanandenvironment
havealwaysbeengivenspecificimportanceinthedomainofhumansciencethusthestudyof
environmentallawbegins.

HoweverEnvironmentmeansdifferentthingstodifferentthingstodifferentpeople,Section
2(a) of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 affords an inclusive definition of
environment.Itsaysthatenvironmentincludeswater,airandland,andtheinterrelationship
amongst water, air, land, and the interrelationship amongst water, air, land and human
beings,otherlivingcreatures,plants,microorganismsandproperty. Maninteractsdirectly
withthenaturalenvironmentandasaresulttheredevelopsaclosesetbioculturalbehaviour
patternswhichisseentobeintegratedwiththedailymodeoflifeofthepeopleconcerned.
Theroleoftheadjustmentwiththesurroundingsisthebasicfactorinhumanexistence.Thus
the forest illustrates a specific ecosystem which is conditioned by a particular kind of
environment having several inorganic and organic factors like includes topography, soil,
climate, and various species of plants and animals. The noteworthy feature of this
environmentalsituationisthatallaretiedtogetherinaninterrelatedmanner.6

6 S.N. Ratha, George Pfeffer, Deepak Kumar Behera, Contemporary Society and Tribal Studies, Vol. 1, Page.
264, Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi,1997.

4
 CHAPTERII

CAUSESANDITSEFFECT

Forests are precious resource of economic development and environmental stability.

Unknowntomany,theIndiannationaccountsforthebiggestnumberoftheunderprivileged
intheentireworld,manyofwhomrelycompletelyorimplicitlyongreenareasforaliving.
Poverty,aswellasthehugeandescalatinghumanpopulation,placesindefatigablepressure
on the forested parts of India. The end result is serious dilapidation of the countrys
woodland resources.7 But deforestation is causing a serious threat to the environment,
economyofthecountryandthequalityoflife.Unfortunately,therateofdeforestationishigh
as compared to the rate of reforestation. Following are the factors responsible for the
deforestation.

(i) Indiscriminatefellingoftrees

(ii) Industrialdevelopment

(iii) Damconstructionforgeneratingelectricityandirrigation

(iv) Populationincrease

(v) Urbanization

Theeffectofdeforestationhasadirectimpactontheenvironment.Thedeforestation
haseffectonfollowingelements

1.ChangeinClimaticconditions,whichwearebeingexposedinrecentyears

2.Lossofbiodiversity
7 http://deforestation-facts.blogspot.com/2011/04/current-trends-deforestation-in-india.html, accessed on 15-10-
2011.

5
3.OzoneLayer

4.Wildlife

5.TribalIssues

6.SoilErosion

7.Effectonriversystems,changingcourseofaction

Article21protectsrighttolifeasaFundamentalRight.Enjoymentoflifeanditsattainment,
includingtheirrighttolifewithhumandignity,encompasseswithinitsambit,theprotection
andpreservationofenvironment,ecologicalbalancefreefrompollutionofairandwater,
sanitationwithoutwhichlifecannotbeenjoyed.Anycontraryactsoractionswouldcause
environmental pollution. Therefore, hygienic environment is an integral part of right to
healthylife,anditwouldbeimpossibletolivewithhumandignitywithoutahumaneand
healthyenvironment.Environmentprotectionhas,therefore,nowbecomeamatterofgrave
concernforhumanexistence.Promotingenvironmentalprotectionimpliesmaintenanceof
the environment as a whole comprising the man made and the natural environment.
Therefore,thereisConstitutionalimperativeontheCentralGovernment,stategovernments,
andbodieslikemunicipalities,notonlytoensureandsafeguardproperenvironment,butalso
an imperative duty to take adequate measure to promote, protect, and improve the
environmentmanmadeaswellasnaturalenvironment.

Industrialization, urbanization, explosion of population, over exploitation of resources,

depletionoftraditionalsourcesofenergyandrawmaterials,searchfornewsourcesofenergy
andrawmaterials,disruptionofnaturalecologicalbalances,restrictionofmultitudeofanimal
andplantspeciesforeconomicreasonsandsometimesfornogoodreasonatall,arefactors
which have contributed towards environmental deterioration. While the scientific and
technologicalprogressofmanhasinvestedhimwithimmensepowerovernature,ithasalso
resultedinthearbitraryuseofpowerovernature,ithasalsoresultedinthearbitraryuseof
powerovernature.Ifmanisabletotransformdesertsintooasis,heisalsoleavingbehind

6
desertsintheplaceofoasis.Natureandhistoryaretwocomponentsoftheenvironmentin
whichwelive,move,andproveourselves.

CHAPTERIII

SUSTAINABLEFORESTMANAGEMENT

Forestsarevitalforlifeonearth.Theyarenotjustthegreencoverweneedtomaketheearth
look beautiful; they have many functions integral for our survival and sustenance. They
functionasaresourceformanyaspectsofhumanlife. 8LifeonEarthisheavilydependenton
theforestcoverallaroundtheplanet.Besidesthefactthatthesegreenwondersmakethe
planetextremelygoodtolookat,theyalsohaveagreatmanyfeaturesthatareperformedby
them,mostofthemwhicharepivotaltoourgrowth,survivalandsustenance.Fromthepoint
ofviewofhumanlife,theyareveryimportantastheyprovidealargearrayofresourcesthat
weuseinoureverydaylife.9
Forestsareremovableresourcesandtheycontributesubstantiallytothesocialandeconomic
developmentofthecountry.Theyhavemajorroletoplayinenhancingthequalityofour
environment.Thehistoryofforestislinkedwiththehistoryofcivilization. Forestshavea
significant role not only in ensuring the environmental stability but also achieving
economical benefits. Forest is not just a group of trees, but is an ecosystem in itself,
comprising all the living and nonliving components. The main living components of a
terrestrial ecosystem are plants dominated by trees, forming the consumer element and
decompresses of the micro organisms. Soil, water, air and sunshine form the nonliving
componentsofaforest/terrestrialecosystem.Thesecomponentsinteractwitheachotherand
evolvetheecologicalenergycyclewhichconsists oftwoothercyclicprocesses,namely

8 Importance of Forests, http://www.earthconservation.net/importance-of-forests.html, accessed on 27-10-2011.

9 Forests- Our Allies in Survival, http://www.earthconservation.net/importance-of-forest-in-our-
environment.html, accessed on 27-10-2011.

7
watercycleandmatter(organicandinorganic)cycle.Theseprocessesmaintainthedynamic
equilibriumbetweenthelivingcomponentsandnonlivingcomponentswithinanecosystem.
Environment problems in the developing world are clearly linked to unbalanced
development.Theirneedforenvironmentalchangeisverygreat.
Continuousdeforestationandthedegradationofforestsleadingtoadeclineinforestcover
havelongbeensourcesofconcernforpolicymakersinIndia.Indeed,hadtherenotbeensuch
largescaledeforestationandforestdegradationinIndia,itisunlikelythatanypolicymaker
wouldhavegivenseriousthoughttotheparticipatoryforestmanagementmodel.Theneed
ofthehourandthebacklashofpolicyfailureshaveledtotheemergenceofanewinstitution
andrationalefortheoriginofaparticipatoryforestmanagementmodelwithintheIndian
forestry sector. This section discusses the measures to be taken for the protection and
improvementoftheenvironment.
The Government of India enacted the rst postindependence National Forest Policy in
1952, .An attempt to revise rather than entirely reconstruct the preceding forest policy
proposedafunctionalclassicationofforestsintoprotectionforests,nationalforests,village
forestsandtreelands,etc.,Ecologicalneedswereincludedinthepolicy:
Toevolveasystemofbalancedandcomplimentarylanduse,toensuremaximum
productionwithleastdeterioration.

Toprohibitriparian,erosionfromwastelands,shiftingsanddunesandspreadingof
coastalsands.

Toprohibitdenudationofhillsandmountains.

Tosatisfythegrowingdemandofsmallwoodforagriculturalimplements,fuelwood,
conditions.

To develop forests/plantations to ameliorate physical habitat as well as climatic

conditions

Toensuresustainedsupplyoftimberfordefence,industry,railway,electricsupply,
communication,shippingetc.

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 Torealizemaximumpossiblerevenueinperpetuity,inadditiontoneedsmentioned
above.

Althoughthispolicyin1952consideredecologicalaspects,yetforestwaschieflyvisualized
asacomponentforthebettermentofthehumansociety.Ecologicalrestorationwasnevera
priority.

3.1.NationalForestPolicy,1988

TheUnionMinistryforEnvironmentandForestsannouncedanewforestpolicyofIndiain
1988.Theimportantfeaturesofthepolicyinclude:

a) Onethirdofthetotallandareaofthecountryshouldbeundertheforestcover.This
hasbeenpresentinNationalForestpolicyof1952aswell.However,thestrategyto
achievethisgoalisthroughafforestationofatleasttwothirdoftheareaofhillsand
mountainstoensurereducedsoilerosionfromhighaltitudes.

b) Theforestshouldnolongerbeviewedasasourceofrevenue,ratheritssustainedrole
to bring ecological balance, environmental sustainability including atmospheric
equilibrium,augmentationofprecipitationetc.neededforthesurvivalofalllifeforms
on the earth including human being should be the principal idea behind forest
management.

c) Compensatoryafforestationhasbeenemphasizedinthispolicy,inthefaceofrising
diversionofnaturalforestlandsthroughoutIndia.Thepolicystatesthatconstruction
ofdamsandreservoirs,miningandexpansionofagricultureshouldbeconsistentwith
theneedforconservationoftreesandforests.Projectswhichinvolvesuchdiversion,
at least provide in the investment, budget funds for regeneration/compensatory
afforestation. Regularization of encroachment of Government forests has been
prohibited along with prohibition of mining without adequate environmental
assessmentandscientificmanagementmeasuresenforcedbyadequateandeffective
machinery.

9
 d) Modificationoflandlawshavebeenrecommendedinfaceofnecessityarisingfrom
growing motivation (and also to catalize motivation) towards siliviculture and
production of grasses, fodder, leguminous nitrogen fixers etc. a time bound
programme of a huge need based afforestation throughout the country has been
suggested.Wastelandsanddegradedlandshavebeensuggestedtobeutilizedfor
afforestationandotherplantationpurposes.

e) The policy suggests replacement of contractors by Government corporations or

tribal/labour cooperatives for the removal of timber from forest areas.
Discouragementofgrazingandbrowsingintheforestareahasbeensuggested.

f) Conservationofwildlifehasbeengivenspecialimportanceinthepolicy.However,in
theActof1980withamendmentsin1988,thetermnonforestpurposehasbeen
clearlyexplained.Non.forestpurposesincludesdiversionforthecultivationoftea,
coffee,rubberplants,spices,oilbearingplants,horticulturalcrops,medicinalplants
etc.andanyotherpurposeexceptafforestation.However,nonforestdoesnotinclude
activitiesrelatedtoconservationofnaturalresources,managementanddevelopment
of forests and management of wildlife including establishment of checkposts,
security posts, wireless communication, dams restricted for forestry, waterholes,
firelines,trenchmarks,boundarymarks,fencing,culverts,bridges,saltlicks,watch
towers,pipelinesforwatersupplyetc.needforthemanagementoftheforest.

In VelloreCitizensWelfareForumVs.UnionofIndiaandothers 10,casetheCourthas
dealtwithatlengthrelationshipbetweenenvironmentanddevelopmentandithasgivenits
approvalwithregardtosustainabledevelopmentratherthanabsolutedevelopmentor
developmentatallcosts.

The1988NationalForestPolicy 11 focusedonthemaintenanceofenvironmentalstability,
conservationofnaturalheritagebypreservingthenaturalforestsandmeetingthebasicneeds
ofpeople,andalso maintaining therelationship between thetribals andother dependent
people,thusencompassingecological,economicandsocialaspectsofforestmanagement.

10 AIR 1996 SC 2715.

11 GoI, National Forest Policy, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, 1988.

10
Thereishoweveranurgentneedstomonitorandensureproperimplementationofthese
policyimplications.Thequantifiableapproachlikecriteriaandindicatorstomonitorand
implementtheseobjectivesofsustainabilityisimperative.

Thegovernmentnowviewstheroleofforestryasamethodtomanagetheenvironmentand
biodiversity,andawaytomeettheneedsofthevillagerswhoarestayingneartheforests.
Forestsarenolongerseenasasourceofsupplyofrawmaterialstowoodbasedindustriesthe
governmentnowrealizesthatitisnotpossibletoprotectandconservetheforestandmeet
their mandate of serving the people. As such government issued a notification in 1990
advisingallthestatestocomeupwiththeGovernmentorderstoestablishJointManagement
ofForestryinvariousdistrictsanddivisions.InIndia,outof26states22stateshavealready
issuednotificationsandjointmanagementforestsismovingfastinthosestates.

InIndiathereareabout600,000villagesofwhich200,000villagesaresituatedinor
neartheforestareasasastakeholdersintheprocessofsustainablemanagement.

3.2.TheArabariexperimentsinJFM

TherelevanceofagiveandtakeprinciplebetweentheFDandthecommunitysurfacedin
theearly1970s.AgroupofFDpersonnelrealizedtheimportanceofpeoplesparticipationin
regenerationofdegradedSal(Shorearobusta)forestsinArabariRangeofMidnapurdistrict
inthestateofWestBengal.Thisforestrejuvenationstrategywasstartedasanexperiment
andlateronreplicatedonalargescalerstinthisstatefollowedbyitsadoptionindifferent
partsofcountry.TheWestBengalForestDepartmentissuedtherstgovernmentorderin
1989toinvolvevillagecommunitiesinforestprotectionwithprovisiontogivethepeople
25%oftherevenueearnedontimberharvestedfromtheprotectedforest.Thissuccessful
experimentledtothedevelopmentofanewforestmanagementstrategyknownasJoint
ForestManagement(JFM).Communitiesinvolvedinthemanagementofgovernmentforests
intheirvicinityundertheJFMbecameknownasforestprotectioncommittees.Thisisthe
rstrecordedcaseofcomanagementofforests.

Anothersuccessfulexperiment,whichbeganin1975inSukhomajri,avillageinthestateof
Haryana, also helped in the conceptualization of participatory forest management. This

11
experimentwasinitiatedasanintegratedwatersheddevelopmentprogrammebytheCentral
Soil&WaterConservationResearch&TrainingInstitute(CSWCRTI),ResearchCentre,
Chandigarh.Theemphasiswasonrainwaterharvestingtoenhanceirrigationofcultivated
landinSukhomajri,whichfacedaseveresoilerosionproblem.Forestrybecameanintegral
partoftheexperiment,asthevarioustreespecieswereplantedtoprotectthewatershed,
alongwiththebuildingofwaterharvestingstructuresforharnessingrainwater.Anunwritten
agreement between the CSWCRTI team and villagers was developed for protecting the
catchmentofthewaterharvestingstructuresfromgrazingandillicitcuttinginthearea.This
was achieved by instituting a Water Users Association subsequently renamed as Hill
ResourceManagementSociety(HRMS).Theentiremanagementofthisprojectwashanded
overtoHRMS,whichfunctionedontheprinciplesofparticipation.12

Withregardstothepeoplesinvolvementintheforestry,theActlaysdownthatitwouldbe
thedutyoftheforestertoawakentheinterestofthepeopleinthedevelopment,extensionand
establishmentoftreelandswhereverpossible,andtomakethemtreeminded.13

Successfulpoliciesinitiatedforreforestation/afforestationactivitiesatthemicrolevelhave
ledtosubsequentformulationandimplementationofnewpoliciesforforestmanagementfor
theentirecountry.Atpresenttherearemorethan84,000JFMcommitteesspreadover27
states,managing17millionhectaresofforests.TherearealsoSelfinitiatedForestProtection
GroupsprotectingandstateownedforestsinIndiaontheprincipleofparticipatoryforestry
involved.

Buttheconceptofsustainableforestmanagementisbeingimplementedonthebasissince
2000.TheinitiativeknownastheBhopalIndiaprocess,hasovertheyearsendeavouredto
formulateaworkingframeworkfortheachievementofthegoalsofsustainabilityspecificto
the national forestry conditions. However, the dynamics of forest management in a
developing country is unique, as the multiple uses of forests are clearly felt in a multi
stakeholderenvironment.Sustainabledevelopmentiscommonlydefinedasdevelopmentthat
meetstheneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeet
their own needs. Sustainable forest management has been considered as an integral

12 www.teriin.org/case/jfm.htm, accessed on 30-10-2011.

13 Government of India, 1952, National Forest Policy, 1952.

12
componentofsustainabledevelopmentsincetheUNCEDConferenceatRiodeJaneiroin
1992,alsocalledtheEarthSummit.Afterthesummitwhereinternationalforestprinciples
wereformulatedforthefirsttimebyworldleadersandthefirstglobalpolicyonsustainable
forestmanagementwasadopted,thenotionofsustainableforestmanagementrapidlygained
interest.Accordingly,theforestresourcesandlandsshouldbemanagedsustainablytomeet
thesocial,economic,ecological,culturalandspiritualfunctions,andforthemaintenanceand
enhancement of biological diversity. The concept got support and recognition in various
internationalforaforthemanagement,conservationandsustainabledevelopmentofalltypes
offorests.

Sustainableforestmanagementencompassesallthethreecomponentsofsustainability,viz.
ecological,economicandsocioculturalwellbeing.IthasbeendefinedbytheInternational
TropicalTimberOrganization(ITTO)astheprocessofmanagingpermanentforestlandto
achieveoneormoreclearlyspecifiedobjectivesofforestmanagementwithregardtothe
production ofa continuous flow ofdesirable forestproducts and services without undue
reductionofitsinherentvaluesandfutureproductivityandwithoutundueundesirableeffects
onthephysicalandsocialenvironment.

Sustainabilityisnotanabsolute,independentofhumanconceptualframework.Rather,itis
alwayssetinthecontextofdecisionsaboutwhattypeofsystemistobesustainedandover
what spatiotemporal scale.14 Given the abstract nature of sustainability, the criteria and
indicators approach provides a framework to define the parameters and goals of socio
cultural, economic and ecological aspects relating to sustainability and assess progress
towardsthem.

3.3.Whysustainableforestmanagement?

Increasedpressureonforestresourcesofthecountryoverthelastfewdecadeshasthreatened
thelivelihoodsofmillionsofforestdwellersandotherpoorpeoplelivinginthevicinityof
theforests.Forestresourceshavebeenimportantfortheprosperityofanynationandits
communities.Theyareanessentialnaturalresourceprovidingmultiplebenefitstopeople
besidesotherimportantfunctionssuchasbiodiversityconservation,globalcarbonstorage
14 Ibid.

13
andastorehouseforfutureoptionvalues.Therichandthepooralikearedependentonforest
resources,directlyorindirectly,andforestryinmanydevelopingcountries,includingIndiais
alsoseenasameansforeradicatingruralpovertyandachievingsustainabledevelopment.

Thepressureonexistingforestresources isimmenseinIndia.Havingonly2.5%ofthe
worldsgeographicareaand1.85%oftheworldsforestarea,wehave17%oftheworlds
populationand18%oflivestockpopulation.15Inthiscontext,itisimperativetopreservethe
forests and manage them sustainably, so as to ensure secure livelihood of the forest
dependentcommunitiesaswellasconservingourbiologicaldiversity.

Recently,asaresultofincreasingpublicawarenessandvarioustreatiesandconventionsall
overtheworld,thereisamovementtowardsacceptingonlythoseforestproductswhichhave
originatedfromsustainablymanagedforests.Ithasemergedasamarketbasedmechanismin
support of sustainable forest management. Certification and ecolabelling are such new
mechanismsenhancingforestproductpositioningforapremiumpriceontheonehand,and
ensuringbettermanagingpracticesforforestsontheother.

3.4.Criteriaandindicatorsapproachforsustainableforestmanagement

Intheforestrysector,thereisaparadigmshiftfromafocusonsustainedtimberyieldto
sustainable forest management, encompassing in it environmental, economic and social
dimensions.Theprincipleofsustainedyieldisconsideredasthefocusofforestmanagement
eversincetheforestsweremanagedonmodernscientificbasis.Itisanacceptednormin
forestmanagementandformsthecoreofmodern,organizedforestry.Scientificknowledgeis
neededallovertheworldtoeffectivelyaddresstheseissuesgloballyandregionally,andto
providethetechnicalbasisforpolicydecisions.

Therehavebeenmanyinternationalinitiativeswithpotentialapplicationtodefineandassess
sustainableforestmanagement,suchascriteriaandindicators,lifecycleassessment,cost
benefit analysis, knowledgebased systems and environmental impact assessment. 16 The

15 NFAP, National Forestry Action Programme India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
India, New Delhi, 1999.
16 Baelemans, A. and Muys, B., A Critical Evaluation Of Environmental Assessment Tools For Sustainable
Forest Management, In Proceedings of the International Conference on Life Cycle Assessment in Agriculture,
Agro-industry and Forestry (ed. Ceuterick, D.), Brussels, 34 December 1998, pp. 6575.

14
criteriaandindicatormethodhasbeenwidelyacceptedandimmenseworkhasbeendone
towardsitsrefinementandpracticalapplication.Overtheyears,ithasdevelopedasapotent
toolforassessment,monitoringandreportingofsustainabilityofforestresources.Currently,
about 160 countries are participating in nine regional and international processes of
sustainableforestmanagementfollowingthecriteriaandindicatorapproach,mostlywithin
theframeworkofaninternationalinitiative,whicharespecifictovariousforestryconditions.

Thecriteriaandindicatorsapproachpresentsatoolforassessingthemagnitudeanddirection
ofchangeingivenforestrysituations,andthisprovidescriticalinformationtotheforest
managersandotheractorsforforestrelateddecisionmaking.Itisanimportantframeworkto
assist countries collect, store and disseminate reliable sciencebased forest information
neededtomonitorandassessforestconditions.Criteriadefineandcharacterizetheessential
elements,aswellasasetofconditionsorprocesses,bywhichsustainableforestmanagement
maybeassessed.Thecriteriaandindicatorsprovidearobustframeworknotonlytodefine
sustainability in the context of individual countries, but also provide a mechanism for
understanding,monitoringandanalysingnationalandglobaltrends.Theseareinstruments
through which progress towards sustainable forest management may be evaluated and
reported.Castenadadefinescriteriaastherangeofforestvaluestobeaddressedandthe
essentialelements orprinciples offorestmanagementagainstwhichthe sustainability of
forestsmaybeassessed.Eachcriterionrelatestoakeyelementofsustainabilityandmaybe
describedbyoneormoreindicators.Whileindicatorsareparametersthatmeasurespecific
quantitativeandqualitativeattributesandhelpmonitortrendsinthesustainabilityofforest
managementovertime.

3.5.Internationalinitiatives

Sevencommonthematicareasofsustainableforestmanagementhaveemergedbasedonthe
criteria of the nine ongoing regional and international sustainable forest management
initiatives.Thesewereacknowledgedbytheinternationalforestcommunityatthefourth

15
sessionoftheUnitedNationsForumonForests(2004)andthe16thsessionoftheCommittee
onForestry(2003).Theseseventhematicareasinclude:

i. Extentofforestresources;

ii. Biologicaldiversity;

iii. Foresthealthandvitality;

iv. Productivefunctionsofforestresources;

v. Protectivefunctionsofforestresources;

vi. Socioeconomicfunctions,and

vii. Legal,policyandinstitutionalframework.

Thecriteriaandindicatorsapproachforsustainableforestmanagementwasinitiatedbythe
ITTO17.Atpresent,thereappearstobegrowinginternationalconsensusonthekeyelements
of sustainable forest management. There are nine ongoing international and/or regional
criteriaandindicatorsinitiativescurrently,involvingapproximately160countrieswithsome
membercountries participating in more than one process the above mentioned nine
processes.

3.6Indianinitiative

Thecriteriaandindicatorsapproachdevelopedwithdevelopmentofaspecificsetofcriteria
and indicators for specific forestry conditions through international processes among the
participatingcountries.ItwasrealizedtodevelopsustainableforestmanagementinIndia,to
accomplishestablishmentofabenchmarkforsustainabilityaccordingtotheprevailingpolicy
framework.TheIndianinitiativeofcriteriaandindicatorsapproachforsustainableforest
management was spearheaded by the IIFM (Indian Institute of Forest Management) in
collaborationwithITTOandtheMinistryofEnvironmentandForests,GovernmentofIndia.
Atotalof8criteriaand51indicatorsspecifictoIndianforestryconditionswereevolvedafter

17 ITTO, Criteria For The Measurement Of Sustainable Forest Management, ITTO Policy Development Series
No. 3, International Tropical Timber Organization, Japan, 1992.

16
aconsultativeprocessinvolvingagamutofstakeholders.Thecriteriaandindicatorsofthe
BhopalIndiaprocesshaveevolvedafteralotofdeliberationsandfieldtestingovertheyears.

TheimplementationofsustainableforestmanagementinadiversecountrylikeIndiaisa
challengingtask.Tobemoreeffective,criteriaandindicatorsshouldbeincorporatedinto
national forestry legislations and regulation; not only as voluntary application. Being
analogouswithsustainabledevelopment,sustainableforestmanagementalsohasimportant
implicationsintheglobaleconomicscenario.Besidescontributingtoenvironmental,social
andeconomicwellbeingofthecommunities,italsofacilitatesmarketorientedtoolslike
certificationandecolabelling.Thisrequiresactiveparticipationandcoordinationamongthe
stakeholdersforproperimplementation.Awiderapplicationofcriteriaandindicatorsshall
requirealongmaturityprocess.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has already created a
SustainableForestManagement(SFM)CellintheMinistryin2006.Itisexpectedtoactasa
nationallevelfocalpointtowardsSFMinthecountry.Discussionsarealsoinanadvanced
stagetocreateSFMCellsineachstate.TheseSFMCellsareexpectedtoactasanodalpoint
forallmattersrelatedtosustainableforestmanagementinthecountryandtoencourage
developmentofnationalprogrammesaimedatsustainableutilizationandconservationof
forests.

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 CHAPTERVII

CONCLUSION

Thehistoricclearingofforestswastoallowcivilizationstogrowandflourish,whilemanyof
theforestsclearedtodayareforeconomicreasonsonly.Wenowknowthat80percentofthe
worldsancientforestshavebeendestroyed.Thissituationhaschangedhowever,andissues
surroundingdeforestationareknownandrecognized.
InM.C.Mehtav.KamalNath,18,theSupremeCourtdeclaredthepublictrustdoctrineas
thepartofthelawoftheland.Underthepublictrust,doctrinealltheecosystemsoperating
inournaturalresources,comeswithinitsscope.TheStateisconsideredtobethetrustee
ofallnaturalresourcesandasatrusteeitisunderalegaldutytoprotectthenaturalresources.
InthejudgmentoftheCourt,intheconsonancewiththearticle48AoftheConstitution
whichimposesobligationontheStatetoprotectandimprovetheenvironment,wildlifeand
forests.

Itmaybeinferredthatlaw alonecannothelpinrestoringofabalanceinthebiosphere
disturbance.Norcanbetheprinciplesofawardingmorecompensationcanhelpeffectively.
The situation requires a clear perception and imaginative planning at every stage of
development.Italsorequiressustainedeffortsandresultorientedstrategicaction.

Theneedofthehourisnotenvironmentalpollutionbutenvironmentalrevolution.We
mustremovefromenvironmentvs.developmenttoenvironmentanddevelopmentand
onlythenitwillbepossibletoachievethisgoalitisnecessarythatthereisacceptanceof
responsibilitybycitizensandcommunitiesandbyenterprisesandinstitutionsateverylevel,
allsharingequitablyincommonefforts.

The policy directives issued by the government of India from time to time since the
announcementoftheNationalForestPolicyof1988indicatetheexistenceofalearning
curveintheprocessofimplementationofJFMinIndia.Thismeansthatwiththepassageof
time,policymakershaverealizedtheneedfornew policymeasures forexpandingJFM
programmestogetherwiththeneedforovercomingtheconstraintsintheirimplementation.

18 (1997) SCC 388.

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Furthermore,thepresentanalysisofforestpoliciesonparticipatoryforestmanagementin
IndiarevealsthegovernmentofIndiasdeterminationforthesuccessfulimplementationand
expansion of JFM throughout the country. But such a resolve is insufficient on its own
without the collective effort of all stakeholders, encompassing governmental and non
governmentalorganizations.Asoundforestpolicyisnecessaryinordertoovercomethese
issuesandchallenges.

Nowthetimehasalsocometostreamlinetheforestpolicies,rulesandregulationsinherited
fromthecolonialperiodaswellasthoseformulatedsinceindependence,inviewofJFMasa
majorforestmanagementmodel.Onthetechnicalside,emphasisneedstobeplacedonthe
formulationofnewandeffectivesilviculturalpracticestoincreasetheproductivityofforests
managed by village communities for the enhanced harvest of NWFPs. These corrective
measures will synchronize the practices with the basic philosophy and objectives of
participatory forest management. To sum up, these issues and challenges to the JFM
programmeinIndiarequireindepthstudyandanalysisfortheirexpeditiousresolution.

Inovercomingbenefitsharingproblem,itisimportantforpolicymakerstoexaminethe
history of past settlements during rule, wherein forest users were granted certain rights.
These rights should not be abruptly extinguished by imposing new benefit sharing
arrangementunderJFMasthatwilldeterminetheresponseofvillagecommunitiestoJFM

InconclusionitseemsreasonabletosaythatJFMinitiativesarebecomingacceptableat
variouslevelsofgovernanceinIndia,andallforestswilleventuallybemanagedunderthe
principlesofparticipatoryforeststoempowerandhelppovertyalleviationbyensuringthe
livelihoodsecurityoftheforestdependentpeople.

Lawscannotlegislatetheattitudesofthepeopleitsthepeoplemindsethastobechangedin
ordertokeepourmotherearthcleanandgreen.

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REFRENCES:

Bibliography:

Chandra,GeetanjaliandJ.N.Pandey,PublicInterestLitigationandEnvironment
Protection,DeepandDeepPublications,NewDelhi,2005.

Divan,ShyamandArwinRosencrantz, EnvironmentalLawandPolicyinIndia,
OxfordUniversityPress,NewDelhi,2007.

Holder,Jane, EnvironmentalProtection,LawandPolicy,Cambridge,NewYork,
2007

Leelakrishnan,P.,EnvironmentalLawCaseBook,LexisNexisButterworths,New
Delhi,2006.

Padma,InternationalEnvironmentalLaw,AsiaLawHouse,Hyderabad,2005.

Wibiliography:

www.books.google.co.in
www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
www.financialexpress.com
www.scribd.com
www.maupatra.com
www.ssrn.com

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