Unwarranted act

Does independent India's first amendment to the Indian Forest Act reflect the changes in forest policy?

1855 Charter of Indian Forests

Issued by Lord Dalhousie, it outlined conservation based on a report by John McClelland, the then Superintendent of Forests, Burma

1865 Indian Forest Act

It negated the role of forest communities in managing forests. Therefore, a central cadre of officers was appointed to do that

1878 Indian Forest Act (Amendment)

The role of forest dwellers was still not recognised. India's vast forest resources continued to be at the mercy of high-handed imperial officers

1894 First National Forest Policy

The focus was the maximisation of revenue collection after meeting the needs of locals

1927 Indian Forest Act (Amendment)

The Act created three categories of forests‹ reserved, protected and village‹ for maximum revenue collection

1952 Second National Forest Policy

It proposed that a total of 33 per cent of the total geographical area of India should be under forest or tree cover

1972 Wildlife Protection Act

The concept of conservation gets government's support with this Act. The aim is to protect wildlife, and control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives

2019 Draft amendment to IFA, 1927

Empowers bureaucracy to override peoplecentric forest regime, as espoused under FRA, 2006

2006 Forest Rights Act

For the first time, the Indian government recognised the rights of forest dwellers. Through this Act, it started the process of legalising their traditional rights over forest lands

1988 Third National Forest Policy

It envisaged community involvement in forest regeneration and prioritised sustainable management of resources

1980 Indian Forest (Conservation) Act

The Act made it mandatory for the states to take the approval of the government of India before diversion of any forestland for non-forestry purposes. It also had a provision for compensatory afforestation, preferably in non-forested areas