Forest Resources in India- IV BCA, II BBM & II B.Com

Forest Resources in India relate to the distinctive topography, terrain, wild life, climate and vegetation of the country. Forest resources in India have always been one of the richest resources. The forest resources of the country are ancient in nature and composition, since the nation was once covered with dense forests. The history of forest resources in India is evident in the ancient texts all of which have some mention of these forests. The people honored the forests and a large number of religious ceremonies focused on trees and plants. Their early reference dates back to around 4000 years. Agni Purana states that man should protect forest resources in India to have material gains and religious blessings. Around 2500 years ago, Lord Buddha preached that man should plant a tree every five years.

Importance of Forest Resources in India
Bhimashankar Forest at Maharashtra - Forest Resources in IndiaThe importance of forest resources in India was realised in around the 18th century, when a commissioner was appointed to look into the accessibility of teak trees in the Malabar forests. In the year 1806, Captain Watson was appointed as the commissioner of forest resources in India. He was responsible for organising the production of teak and other timber appropriate for the building of ships. Forest management in the country was chiefly aimed at producing commercial products like teak timber. Even nowadays, huge territories of forest resources in the country are enclosed with teak plantations. Further, in the year 1855, Lord Dalhousie outlined regulations for protection of forest resources in India. In Malabar hills teak plantations were raised and in the Nilgiri Hills acacia and eucalyptus were raised. From 1865 to 1894, forest resources in India were established for protecting material for imperial needs. From the 18th century, scientific forest management systems were engaged to regenerate and yield the forest resources in India to make it sustainable.

In the early 1990s about 17 percent of forest resources in India land were dense forestland. However, as around 50 percent of this land was infertile, total region under productive forests was nearly 35 million hectares that is around 10 percent of the total land area of the country. With the increasing demand of the growing population of the country the requirement of forest resources also increased. All these resulted in the continuing demolition of forests around the 1980s, taking a serious toll on the soil. Moreover, around 1990`s several forest resources experienced heavy rainfall, and many forests were in regions with a high altitude and some of them were inaccessible. Around 20 percent of the total area under forests is in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Forest vegetation is diverse and really large in the country. Like for instance, there are nearly 600 species of hardwoods, Sal and teak. These are the principal species.

National Forest Policy of the year 1988, stressed on the importance of forest resources as a significant part of the economy and ecology of the country. This policy particularly focused on ensuring stability of the environment, maintaining ecological balance and preserving the forests. Further, the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 was also amended in the year 1988 for facilitating stricter protection measures in the country. Slowly and gradually, people have understood the significance of forests resources and how deforestation threatens the ecology. Thus, people have become more interested and involved in conservation of forest resources in India.