Question

Forest Policy was revised in _____________.

• A. 1952 and again in 1988
• B. 1962 and again in 1989
• C. 1942 and again in 1962
• D. 1952 and again in 1961

Answer 1

The correct option is A 1952 and again in 1988

The British introduced scientific management of forests through a centralised approach to forest management and development. The first formal government approach to forestry can be traced to the enactment of the National Forest Policy of $1894$ which stressed on conserving forests for maintaining environmental stability and meeting basic needs of fringe forest user groups. The policy was revised in $1952$ and the new policy emphasised on extension of forests beyond the traditional forest areas. This gave impetus to social forestry and $agro/farm$ forestry.

This policy was the harbinger of the green movement in the country. It also proposed that $60$% of the land in the hills and $20$% in the plains and in all $33$% of the total geographical area should be under forest/tree cover. The serious depletion of forest resources due to biotic and industrial pressure and other reasons made the policy makers review the situation in the late eighties and evolve a new strategy for conservation of forests. The National Forest Policy was once again revised in $1988,$ which envisaged community involvement in the protection and regeneration of forests. It accorded highest priority to sustainable management of the forest resource.