FOREST CONSERVATION ACT, 1980

This act was enacted on 25^th October, 1980. This act is aimed to conserve all the types of forests.

1.      To use forests only for forestry purposes.

2.      Conservation all types of forests including reserved forests, protected forests or any forested land.

3.      Stoppage of any illegal non- forest activity in a forest area.

4.      To control of shifting cultivation and encroachments.

5.      To control gazing problems.

6.      Compensatory afforestration on the non- forest land.

7.      To check deforestration in the critical areas like catchment areas,sleep slopes,etc. To control soil erosion.

Forest conservation act was AMENDED IN 1992.

The amended act states; 

1.      To allow to non forestry activities like setting of transmission lines, drilling , hydro electric projects,etc.with the prior approval of central government.

2.      Cultivation of cash crops like tea, coffee,rubber,etc. Not permitted in the reserved forests.

3.      Approval of central government must for the cultivation of fruit trees,oil-yielding or medicinal plants.

4.      To allow tassar cultivation( a type of silk producing insect) to discourage monocultural practices in forests.

5.      Mining and removal of stones,bajri,etc. From the river beds consider a non-forestry activities.

Drawbacks of forest act

1.      with the prior approvalof the central government,a reserved forest can be dereserved and non forestry activities can be done.this has caused centralization of powers.

2.       Local communities are not involved in the decision making process regarding the use of forest areas.

3.      The powers of this act are concerned with the central government.

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