Forests have an intricate interrelationship with life and environment. These provide numerous direct and indirect advantages to our economy and society. Hence conservation of forests is important to the survival and prosperity of humankind.

 

Accordingly, the Government of India proposed to have a nation-wide forest conservation policy, and adopted a forest policy in 1952, which was further modified in 1988. According to the new forest policy, the Government will emphasise sustainable forest management in order to conserve and expand forest reserve on the one hand, and to meet the needs of local people on the other

Based on forest conservation policy, following steps are being taken :

(i)Social forestry : It means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands.

(ii)Urban forestry pertains to raising and management of trees on public and private lands.

(iii)Rural forestry gives emphasis or promotion of agro foresting and community foresting.