Forest management

From scientific forestry to people’s participation

Scientific forestry began under British rule. The Imperial Forest Department was set up in 1864 with the German forester Dietrich Brandis as the first Inspector General of Forests. Forests were managed for timber, especially for railway sleepers and ships: natural mixed forests were replaced by plantations of valuable species such as teak and sal, and felling was planned in cycles. The Indian Forest Acts (1865, 1878 and 1927) gave the state control and restricted local people’s use. This model produced timber but ignored local needs and biodiversity.

Social forestry grew from the 1970s (the term was used by the National Commission on Agriculture, 1976). It means growing trees on land outside forests, for and by the community, to meet fuel, fodder and small-timber needs and to reduce pressure on natural forests. It has three types:

• Farm forestry: farmers plant trees on their own land.
• Community forestry: trees on common village land.
• Extension forestry: along roads, canals and railways.

A weakness was the use of fast-growing species like eucalyptus, which gave little fodder and used much water.

Joint Forest Management (JFM) shares responsibility between the forest department and village communities. Villagers protect the forest through forest protection committees and in return get a share of produce. It grew from a successful experiment at Arabari, West Bengal in the early 1970s and was adopted nationally by a government resolution of 1 June 1990.

Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves local people’s well-being, for example local-guide and homestay schemes near parks.

NGOs help through research, awareness, legal action and community work: e.g. the Bombay Natural History Society (founded 1883), WWF-India and the Centre for Science and Environment.

Key points

• Brandis → first Inspector General of Forests (1864).
• Social forestry: farm, community and extension forestry.
• JFM: Arabari (West Bengal) → national resolution 1990.
• Ecotourism = conservation + local benefit.

Exam tips

Questions match a scheme to its description: trees on roadsides = extension forestry; village committees sharing produce = JFM.

Common mistakes

• Thinking scientific forestry meant conservation of biodiversity; it aimed at commercial timber.
• Confusing social forestry (outside forests) with JFM (inside state forests, shared management).
• Calling every nature trip “ecotourism”; it must conserve and benefit locals.