CHAPTER II

SOCIAL FORESTRY-CONCEPTS,
EVOLUTION OF POLICY AND
IMPLEMENTATION PARAMETERS
Introduction

Social forestry involves a total social transformation through

forestry related activities with a holistic approach. The programme thus
transcends the rituals of mere tree planting. The conceptual clarity
about social forestry is quite expedient before the other socio economic
dimensions of social forestry are analyzed. Hence the present chapter is
devoted to a comprehensive discussion about the conceptual
dimensions of social forestry in general and the genesis and evolution
of social forestry concepts, policy and implementation parameters. The
major aspects discussed in this chapter relate to the following.

• General concepts, definitions and perceptions of various authors,

experts and national level organizations and commissions

• The components of social forestry programme as initiated in India

• The evolution of social forestry in the early period before the

governmental control and regulation through the Department of
Forests in various states was exercised and the evolution of social
forest policy during the 19th century and thereafter. A detailed
discussion of the Government policies on social forestry in the
wake of the recommendations of the National Commission on
Agriculture in 1976 and the subsequent policies evolved under
1988 Forest Policy etc has been made.

• The discussion in this chapter has also covered the economic and
social benefits of social forestry and the problems associated with
the implementation of the programme in the century

47
 The discussion in this chapter provides a good backdrop for

understanding the basic concepts, issues and problems concerning

social forestry in the Indian context.

Social forestry has been conceived as the science and art of

growing trees and /or other vegetation on a land available for the

purpose in and outside traditional forest area and managing the

existing forest with intimate involvement of the people and more or less

integrated with other operations resulting in balanced and

complementary land use with a view to provide a wide range of goods

and services to the individuals as well as the society1 Social forestry

has been identified with any programme of tree planting for any

organization on any land including farm forestry. It is a programme of

social forestry to the extent it meets the needs of the rural people2 The

term ‘social forestry’ was coined by Jack Westoby 3 during his

inaugural address at the Ninth Commonwealth Forestry Conference

held in New Delhi in 1968 to include forestry activities that aim at

producing flow of protection and recreating benefits for the

community. This concept of Westoby implies that the goal of social

forestry should be determined by the amount of investment which the

community should make to secure these benefits. In other words the

involvement and participation of the community in forestry related

activities are essential components of social forestry. Social forestry

apart from being a programme of planting trees has a wider

connotation. “It is bundle of activities which generate flow of benefits,

direct and indirect, to the community by utilizing either unutilized or

ill-utilized land. It is not just special technology, rather a process of

48
socio economic change with continuous participation of local
community at all levels of programme implementation. Thus initiation
of social forestry requires effective tackling of all the interrelated social,
economic and political problems prevailing in the rural society”.4

Social forestry has been perceived5 as a concept, a programme

and a mission which aims at ensuring/providing ecological economic
and social security to the people particularly to the rural masses more
so to the tribal and those downtrodden who live below the poverty line,
particularly by involving the beneficiaries right from the planning stage
to the harvesting stage but not only as wage earners. It envisages use of
community lands, individual holdings and other public lands,
denuded/degraded lands for producing what the dependent
communities need and for environmental purposes. It aims at mixed
production of wood, fiber, fodder, grasses, fruits and other raw
materials for self consumption and cottage industry and if surplus for
sale. Here Government control is minimal though financial and
technical support is assured. The profits that accrue after meeting the
local demands are to be shared between Government and people.

Perception of ‘Social Forestry’ concept

The discussion on social forestry has led to the coining of a

plethora of terms to conceptualize it. Some view that basically social
forestry is not different from the traditional forestry. Scientists,
agronomists, and even environmentalists have not come to a consensus
for the exact definition of social forestry. K.M. Tiwari has tried to
explain the term social forestry when he says “what is being practiced
as social forestry is not in any way different from the conventional

49
forestiy being practiced well over a century”. He has further mentioned

“The terms used for various programmes of extending tree cover to non

forestry areas used rather loosely at present are social forestry,

community forestry, farm forestry, urban forestiy, recreation forestiy,

environmental forestry, Vanamahotsava, arboriculture, tree farming

forest farming, small scale forestry, village wood lots, bio aesthetic

plantations, energy plantations, three dimensional forestiy tree crops

and livestock forestiy for 4F(fuel, forage, fodder, fertilizer) agro forestry
etc. Very few of these terms have been precisely defined. Community

forestry has been defined as any situation which intimately involves

local people in a forestry activity. Agro forestry has been defined as a

sustainable land management system which increases the yield of the

land combines the crops (including the tree crops) and forest plants
and/or animals simultaneously or sequentially on the same unit of

land and applied management practices that are compatible with the

cultural practices of the local population.

Community Forestiy is considered as a generic term and other

terms are components there of. It is necessary to appreciate that

society is a broader term than community and/therefore social Forestry

is to be treated as a generic term with community forestiy as best a

synonym. Other terms are to -be treated as different species of social

forestry which encompasses all types of plantations on land mainly

outside the traditional forest areas but may also include the degraded
reserve forests which can be managed to meet the day to day

requirements of people.

50
 The concept of social forestry should include activities involved in
making available tree based produce in the form of firewood leaf fodder,
small timber, fruits edible flower and a variety of other materials like
bark, bum, resin etc for rural cottage industries within easy reach of
people in such way that people feel that they have actively participated
in getting it. The emphasis should be on people and hence social
forestry may be called forestry of the people, by the people and for the
people.

Components of Social Forestry

Implementation of Social Forestry Programme is planned though

different types of plantation activities viz

(a) Farm forestry involving plantation of trees on lands and

boundaries of the fields of farmers by motivating them to take up
such practices.

(b) Community Forestry utilizing village panchayat wasteland, tank

foreshore lands or common lands for raising mixed forest
plantations or fuel wood plantations depending on the immediate
needs of the people fuel wood, timber, fodder and grass or fruit
trees etc which are to be utilized by the people. Besides these
rising of shelter belts in dry and arid regions may also be taken
up in government or community lands.

(c) Strip plantations by planting quick growing trees or road sides

canal banks sides or both sides of railway tracks, tank foreshore
etc.

51
 (d) Rehabilitation of degraded forests so as to take up the
reforestation of such area with primary objective of supplying fuel
wood and small timber to the villages in the adjoining villages.
Such plantations should provide employment to people in the
neighboring villages. The technique of agro-silvi culture should
be adopted in such plantation programme to provide
employment.

(e) Development of recreational forests for meeting the recreational

needs of the people in urban areas.

Major Characteristic Features of the Social Forestry8

Following are the major characteristic Features of social forestry

1. Involvement of the beneficiaries’ right from the planning stage.

2. Satisfaction of the beneficiaiy based on the consumption goods

3. Community lands are used

4. Mixed production system viz grass, fodder fruits, fiber etc are
followed

5. Government control is minimal

6. Finance is contributed though Panchayat as it draws

Government subsidies and voluntary contributions etc.

Gensis of Social Forestry

The concept of social forestry is traced to the period of Lord

Buddha i.e. about 2500 years ago. Lord Buddha gave the message that
every good Buddhist should plant one tree and look after it for five
years so that it grows to full tree and in this way he should plant 5

52
trees in his life time. Later Emperor Ashoka is credited to have planted
shade trees and fruit bearing trees along the roads in his territory.

Sir D. Brandis the first Inspector General of Forests visualized

the role of village forests as early as 1873. He made suggestions to form
Village forests’ as ‘Fuel and Fodder Reserves’ to be managed by the
people themselves. The efforts to establish them however did not
succeed. In the Indian Forest Act of 1878 a chapter was inserted to
provide for the right of the Government to constitute “Village Forests”
over any land and reserved forests. This provision however could not
become operative due to the impossibility of determining and
separating the rights of the community from private rights of
Zamindars. In 1886 an attempt was made to amend the land revenue
laws in Punjab to read as follows.

“If the majority of land owners desire or the local Government

considers it expedient that part of the common waste lands of an estate
be managed for production of timber, fuel or fodder, the local
Government may proclaim that any part not exceeding one fifth shall be
so managed”.

Sir Brandis the IGF wrote in 1883 “It must now be distinctly
recognized that not only does the provision of timber and fire wood
come with the legitimate scope of forest administration in India, but
one of the most important duties will, in future, be to increase the
supply of cattle fodder, particularly during seasons of draught in the
drier districts.”

53
 Government of India made a recommendation in 1883 for
acquisition of village lands at the rate up to Rs. 2000 per square mile
for creation of village forests as a stand by during famine. Towards the
end of the 19th century Government of India invited Dr. J.A. Voelcker to
study Indian agriculture and suggest improvements. Dr. Voelcker in
his report “Improvement of Indian Agriculture” in 1893 while dealing
with wood placed highest emphasis on creation of ‘Fuel and Fodder
Reserves’. He wrote9. “ I regard the provisions of fuel as the most potent
means of maintaining prosperity, not alone to the cultivators, but to the
state itself and as a measure, which the latter, in its won interest,
should take up immediately. If wood could be made to take the place of
dung for fuel we should soon come to realize that more wood means
more manure, that more manure means more crop and more crops an
increasing revenue to the state, whilst to the cultivators, it implies more
fodder better cattle, and more manure again to ensure the future
fertility of the soil”, Dr. Voelcker’s recommendations found place in
Government of India’s resolution of Oct 1894. This obviously
inaugurated the Indian Forest Policy.

Royal Commission on Agriculture in India of 1928 advocated the

creation of village forests. The commission recommended for
establishment of two parallel divisions within the state Forest
Department. One to be responsible for preservation of forests for
climatic and physical protection and also for commercial production
forests and the other division for minor forests village wood lands and
fodder fuel plantations. However the proposal programme could not be
carried out due to vested interest of the Zamindars.

54
Post Independence Scenario

The Indian Forest Policy of 1894 and the second of 1952 had

placed great emphasis on creating new village forests. But little was
achieved.

National Commission on Agriculture10 in 1976 recommended that

the wide spread adoption of the practice of social forestry aimed at

growing and meeting the future fuel wood, fodder and small timber

needs of rural communities. The commission stressed the socio

economic importance of social forestry in the rural community as well

as in the management of forest resources. It was mentioned that by

taking up the programme of raising, of trees, grasses and fodder in the

farmers own lands village common wastelands and degraded forests

close to habitations, it would be possible to meet the requirement of

fuel wood, fodder small timber for rural housing and agricultural

implements thorns for fencing etc. It was also stated that at the same

time these programmes would remove a serious impediment in the

practice of production forestry.

National Commission on Agriculture suggested specific guidelines

for the implementation of various models under social forestry. The

states while implementing social forestry programme selected one or

two of these models for emphasis depending upon various location

specific characteristics like land availability, their productivity,
pressure of agriculture and the demand of the local people etc. Out of

these models, farm forestry, community forestry and strip plantations

are taken up inside or close proximity to rural habitats Among the

remaining two models rehabilitation of degraded forests is really an

55
attempt of reforesting forest lands mostly by forest departments and

the recreation forestry was yet to be taken seriously for

implementation. Consequently social forestry programme

implementation in the country has been attempted mainly through the

first three models.

Objectives of the Social Forestry As Envisaged by NCA

The following are the major objectives of social forestry as envisaged by

the NCA:

1. Meeting the material requirements of leaf fodder for large and

small domesticated ruminants belonging to the rural community

2. Meeting the raw material requirements of household, cottage and

small forest based industries in rural areas

3. generating gainful employment to the rural poor through social

forestry activities

4. Promoting eco-restoration, reforestation and rehabilitation of

degraded forest lands especially those located in the vicinity of

rural house holds.

5. Supplementing the National Forest Policy (1951) objective of

having 33 percent of land area under the tree cover.

6. Meeting the recreational needs of both urban and rural populace

7. Reducing noise pollution in urban areas and increase the

aesthetic value of the urban landscapes.

56
Participants in Social Forestry

Social forestry is a people’s movement for rehabilitation of the

degraded ecosystem and to bring about total transformation of the

socio economic conditions of the rural India. The following list provides

a range of participants11

1. Landless and resource less persons (men and women) in tree

planting and related activities for social cause

2. Small farmers to plant trees along farm boundaries and

homesteads

3. Large farmers to plant trees on a portion of the farm lands.

4. Panchayats to afforest/reforest community lands

5. Students and teachers to plant trees in the premises of all types

of educational institutions.

6. Industrial houses to plant trees into the industrial areas as a

part of landscaping

7. Cantonment areas to plant trees to improve aesthetic and

recreation as values of the cantonment lands

8. Revenue and other government departments to plant trees on

government lands under their custody.

9. Railways to plant trees on the plat form residential areas and

other lands belonging to railways

10. Village organizations on suitable areas in and around the village

57
 11. Forest departments on both sides of national and state

highways, railways lines, canals and foreshores of reservoirs

ponds etc

12. The Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and voluntary

organizations (Vos) will be involved as motivators, promoters,

facilitators and implementators where feasible.

13. Areas under corporation, municipality, town councils etc

should be planted for environmental amelioration and aesthetic

values.

National Forest Policy 1988 and Social Forestry

The National Forest Policy of 1988 had assigned much

significance to social forestry. The strategies enumerated in the policy

under “afforestation, social forestry and forms forestry are mentioned

here.

i. There is need for a massive need based and time bound

programme of afforestation and tree planting, with particular

emphasis on fuel wood and fodder development. It is a

national imperative to perform this on all degraded and

denuded lands whether forest or non forest land.

ii. Encourage the planting of trees along the sides of roads,

railways, rivers and streams and canals and other unutilized

land. Green belts should be raised on urban/industrial areas

as well as in arid tracts.

iii. Village and community lands should be taken up for

development of tree crops and fodder resources if such lands

58
 are not required for any other productive purposes Technical
assistance should be given by Government and the revenue
raised should be given to Panchayats. In all other cases the
revenue should be given to people in order to provide
incentives. Vesting ownership of trees to people belonging to
weaker sections subject to appropriate regulations.

iv. Land laws should be modified wherever necessary to facilitate

and motivate individuals and institutions to undertake tree
farming and grow fodder plants, grasses and legumes on their
own land. Degraded lands should be made available for this
purpose either on lease or on the basis of tree Patta scheme.

The National Forest Policy 1988 thus took important decisions with
regard to social forestry in the country the significant guidelines
relate to the following aspects.

i. Sharing of revenues accruing from social forestry plantations

ii. Vesting ownership of the trees to weaker sections in lien of

their services in nursing, protection and maintaining the
plantations.

iii. Amending land laws wherever necessary to facilitate and

motivate individuals to take up to social forestry

iv. Making the degraded lands vested with the government/

corporate sector available for social forestry on lease or under
tree Patta scheme and

v. Making appropriate regulations that should govern the felling

of trees of private holding.

59
Participatory Forest Management - 1990

The ministry of Environment and Forest Govt, of India notified on

first June 1990 to introduce the participatory Forest Management of
the restored, degraded reserved/ protected forest lands where, earlier,
even access was prohibited. This was an important watershed in the
management under social forestry.

Social Forestry under Jawahar Rojgar Yojana

The objectives of social forestry under Jawahar Rojgar Yojana

relate to the benefits accruing to the rural communities and
particularly to the rural poor Th J Ry aims at soil and water
conservation for the survival of plants under social forestry.

Economic Benefits and Problem Areas of Social Forestry

A proper implementation of social forestry programmes would

bring some economic benefits to the people. The following economic
benefits are mentioned widely.

1. Employment to the poor in the rural backward areas is ensured by

selling ‘people’s’ own forest products to the market and by starting
various small scale industries like honey bee, soap and oil
manufacturing.

2. The forest products of fuel, fodder and timber would be available to

the village community within or near to their villages.

3. A healthy feeling is generated between the foresters and the

plantations as trees are planted by the people and for the people

60
4. Poor and eroded land which is unfit for agriculture would come
under the forest species which give fuel and timber and make the
villagers self sufficient

5. Cash crops could be raised by interspacing of the plant rows. This

would help in solving the food and financial problems of the poor
villagers.

6. Slightly acidic soils are not suitable for growing crops, hence such
lands could be used for planting trees like Leucaena leucoccphala
which give fuel, fodder, timber and pulp.

7. Tree plantations will slow down the speed of the floods and wind and
hence they ensure protection of crops

8. Social forestry will relieve the pressure on the natural forests which
can be maintained for the ecological balance

The success of the social forestry programme depends on the

attitude of the foresters, villagers, politicians and all those involved in
the creation maintenance and utilization of natural resources Rural
masses should be motivated and trained for the social forestry
programmes.

Problem Areas of Social Forestry

There have been criticisms against social forestry by

environmentalists and other organizations about the manner in which
the programme is being implemented. The criticisms centre round;

• the choice of tree species

• the wisdom of monoculture plantations and

61
• the nature of actual beneficiaries

1. It has been mentioned in the media that the eucalypt plantations

that are being raised in Kolar district of Karnatak state feed only

big rayon and paper industries. The high prices paid to some

farmers do benefit them but the agriculture labourers have been

hard hit because farmers grow trees instead of the traditional

food crops. Tree growing is less labour intensive and the

agricultural workers are loosing their traditional jobs and food

production declines leading to high food prices.

2. More and more farmers are taking up to growing to eucalyptus in

Gujarat due to effective extension services of the forest

department. It is mentioned that in Bhavanagar district alone

some 10000 farmers have converted irrigated agricultural land

into eucalypt growing lands. This results in sacrificing good fertile

lands fit for food crops to exclusive tree culture because of good
market price. This is a dangerous tend. This calla for necessary

guidance for arresting this switch over from growing food crops to

eucalyptus Farmers should be encouraged to take up to agro

forestry. Social forestry should be made supplementary to

agricultural programme.

3. Planting of trees in lands called village commons has also

attracted criticism. These lands have been in use for grazing. This

change over needs to be carefully studied. Instead Silvi pastures

will be acceptable to village poor people.

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 4. The choice of tree species in use under the social forestry
programme has also invited criticism. There is an aversion to the
use of exotic species for afforestation programmes. The
preference seems to be for indigenous species of multi purpose
use.

Problems of Planning and Management of Social Forestry

Social forestry is not a mere programme of planting of tree. It is

an amalgam of activities which generate flow of benefits, direct and
indirect to the community by utilizing either unutilized or ill-utilized
land. Initiation of social forestry requires effective tackling of all the
interrelated social, economic and political problems prevailing in the
rural society. This necessitates a comprehensive and relevant policy,
administrative and technological framework which will be able to
manage the programme effectively. A comprehensive analysis of the
over all scenario of planning and management of social forestry is
attempted here.

I. Availability of Land for Social Forestry

1. Wasteland resources - The availability of land for social forestry is

constrained by several factors. Greater chunk of forest land is
being encroached for agricultural purposes due to population
pressures. For long the common purpose land available in the
country side was not considered for raising forestry.

2. Lands believed to be available for social forestry are usually highly

degraded. They are characterized as bald and barren hills, laterite
waste, and thorny scrubs, eroded Lands devoid of top soil cover,

63
 Developing plantation in such lands become very difficult
particularly within the normal range of cost benefit phenomena.

3. Tenurial status: Land tenure arrangements come in the way of

social forestry. Adequate security of tenure is to be decided before
the plantation can be undertaken.

II. Utilization of Surplus Land

A considerable area of surplus land available under the Land

Ceilings Act has been distributed to members of weaker sections to
provide them with a means of livelihood. But such lands are in many
cases agriculturally marginal and they require heavy investment to
make it productive. In many cases such lands are kept vacant such
lands can be brought under social forestry. However definite policies
have to be formulated to bring such lands under social forestry.

III. Organizational Arrangement

Successful implementation of social forestry requires a sound

organization with an inbuilt system of adequate extension methodology.
The present traditional forest organization is not likely to serve the
purpose as it is primarily meant for protecting and policing the forest.
Social forestry can be effectively implemented only with close contact
and persuasion of the local people. The personnel involved in social
forestry must have adequate training in community dealing. Some
actions are initiated in this direction at the state and central
Government level However certain crucial aspects like training of social
forestry personnel and the mode of institutional intervention in the
implementation process are yet to receive attention.

64
IV. Establishment of Plantation

There are some major operating tasks for raising plantations and
social forestry. They relate to nursery raising and preparation,

watering, weeding fertilizations, protection and exploitation. However

some crucial decisions are needed to be taken by the local community

prior to initiating the above tasks. They relate to;

i. Reaching a common understanding between the local felt

needs and national priorities

ii. Deciding an appropriate silvi cultural practices and

iii. Mechanism for production and distribution of seedlings.

V. Distribution of Benefits

The success of social forestry is determined by the efficiency with

which it can ensure the benefits to various sectors of rural population.

However the question of distribution of benefits relate to community

forestry and other similar schemes where forest plantations are raised

on land not belonging to any individual member of community.

The experience so far gathered in the matter of sharing the

benefits particularly in community plantations refers to the fact that

programmes which are designed to help the poor must be based on

clear enforceable contract agreements which guarantee their rights to

share the benefits.

VI. Marketing of Forest Products

Forest Development Corporations in most of the states are

responsible for marketing and pricing of forest produce including the

65
social forest produce. The existing price policies have been criticized in
many national forums as it does not reflect the true resource cost of
various forest products. The price is heavily tilted in favour of
industries. The following steps are needed to improve the position in
this direction viz.

i. Rationalizing the price structure of several wood products and

timber species of industrial importance.

ii. Extending support price to timber producers under social

forestry programme

iii. Encouraging forest based cottage industries by supplying raw

materials as subsidized rates.

There is therefore need for adequate deliberation on the issues

relating to decision on appropriate pricing policy and marketing
infrastructure and monitoring of marketing activities to safe guard the
producers

Major Observations

The following major observations have emerged from the analysis

made in the chapter.

1. Social forestry is perceived as a concept, a programme and a

mission which aims at ensuring/ providing ecological, economic
and social security to the people particularly to the rural masses
more so to the tribals and those down trodden who live below the
poverty line, particularly by involving the beneficiaries’ right form
the planning stage to the harvesting stage.

66
2. Social forestry envisages the use of community lands, individual

holdings and other public lands, denuded/degraded lands for

producing what the dependent communities need and for

environmental purposes. It aims at mixed production of wood,

fiber, fodder, grass, fruits and other raw materials for self
consumption and cottage industry and if surplus for sale. Here

government control is minimal though financial and technical

support is assured.

3. Social forestry is perceived differently and different terms are

used interchangeably to define social forestry viz social forestry,

community forestry, farm forestry, urban forestry, recreation

forestry, environmental forestry, vanamahotsava, arboriculture,

tree farming, forest farming small scale forestry, village wood lots,

bio aesthetic plantation,/ energy plantations three dimensional

forestry, tree crops and livestock forestry for 4F (fuel, forage,

fodder, fertilizer) agro forestry etc.

4. Development of social forestry programme is planned through

different type of plantation activities viz

1. Farm forestry 2. Community forestry 3. Strip plantations

4. Rehabitation of degraded forests and 5. Development of

recreational forests.

5. Major characteristic features of social forests relate to the

following:
i. Involvement of the beneficiaries right from the planning
stage.

67
 ii. Identification of the beneficiary based on the
consumption goods

iii. Use of community lands

iv. Mixed production system

v. Limited Government control

vi. Contribution of farmers though Panchayats

6. The concept of social forestry is traced back to the days of Lord

Buddha and Mahaveer in the early period. Sir D. Brandis the first

Inspector General of Forests Visualized the role for village forests

as early as 1873. The Indian Forest Act 1878 provided for village

forests Government of India made recommendation in 1883 for

acquisition of village lands for creation of village forests. Dr. J.A.

Voelekar recommended for creation of “fuel and fodder reserves”

at the end of 19th century.

Royal commission on Agriculture in India of 1928 advocated for

creation of village forests. The Indian Forest Policy of 1952 laid

great emphasis on creating new village forests.

National Committee on Agriculture in 1976 recommended

for widespread adoption of social forestry aimed at growing and

meeting the future need of fuel wood, fodder and small timber.

The commission suggested specific guidelines for implementation

of various models under social forestry programme.

7. The participants in the social forestry included landless and

resource less persons, small farmers, large farmers, Panchayats,

students and teachers, industrial houses, cantonments, railways,

68
 village organizations, forest departments NGOs, corporations,
municipal councils and town Panchayats etc.

8. Forest Policy 1988 has assigned much significance to social

forestry. Participators Forest Management of 1990 scheme has
been notified by the Government of India for the management of
restored, degraded, reserved protected forests lands. The Jawhar
Rojgar Yojana has emphasized the importance of social forestry.

9. i. The economic benefits of social forestry included employment

generation for the rural poor, and starting of small scale
industries like bee keeping, soap and oil making.

ii. The fuel, fodder and timber would be made available to the
village community

iii. Social forestry generated healthy feelings between foresters

and the plantations.

iv. Poor and eroded land which is unfit for agriculture is now put
to productive uses.

v. Cash crops could be raised by interspacing

vi. Slightly acidic soils are made useful by planting certain plants
like Leucaena Leucoccphala.

vii. Tree plantation will slow down the speed of the floods and
wind and ensure protection of crops.

viii. Social forestry will reduce pressure on natural forests

10. The success of the social forestry programme depends on the

attitude of the foresters, villager’s politicians and all those

69
 involved in the creation maintenance and utilization of natural
resources. The rural masses should be motivated and trained
for the social forestry programmes.

11. Criticisms have been leveled against the social forestry by

environmentalist and other organizations about the manner in
which the programme is being implemented. The criticisms
centre round three main aspects viz.,

i. the choice of the tree species

ii. the wisdom of monoculture plantations and

iii. the nature of the actual beneficiaries

12. Initiation of social forestry requires effective tackling of all the

interrelated social economic and political problems prevailing in
the rural society. This necessitates a comprehensive and
relevant policy, administrative and technological framework
which will be able to manage the programme effectively.

The area of planning and management of social forestry relate to

the following

i. Availability of Land for Social Forestry

ii. Utilization of surplus land

iii. Organizational Arrangement

iv. Establishment of plantation

v. Distribution of Benefits and

vi. Marketing of Forest products.

70
References

1. Tewari- Social Forestry in India- Nataraj Publishers Dehradun.

2. Shah S.A- Forestry for People-ICAR New Delhi, 1988.

3. J.Westoby 1968, New Delhi.

4. D Sen, A.P.Purandare, and PK Das, : Social Forestry In India

(Analysis of Various Modls)-National Institute of Rural
Development- Rakendra Nagar, Hyderabad.

5. KM Tiwari : Social Forestry for Environment Conservation

Silvatika. Northern Forest Rangers College, Dhehra Dun-1983-84,
pp 5.11.

6. K.K.Tiwari-Social Forestry in India- op cit.

7. D Sen. AP Purandare, PK Das.

8. B L Sharma, RL Vishnoi- Perspective on Social Forestry-Daya

Publishing House- Delhi, 2000, p.27.

9. Dr. J.A.Voelkar- Quoted in “Social Forestry In India” by K M

Tiwarti- op cit, p.3.

10. National Commission on Agriculture Forestry Part IX Government

of India Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation New Delhi, 1976.

11. P.K. Sen Sharma and LK Jha-‘Forestry For the people-Ashish

Publishing House-New Delhi, p.6 -1994. .

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