Question

India had a Forest Policy since _________.

• A. 1894
• B. 1895
• C. 1896
• D. 1897

Answer 1

The correct option is A 1894

The British introduced scientific management of forests through a centralized 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 emphasized on an 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 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.