National Forest Policy 1952
Topic: Natural Vegetation and Forests of India · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 1 "Resources and Development"; Class 11, Ch 5 "Natural Vegetation"
Meaning
The National Forest Policy 1952 was independent India's first forest policy. It aimed to bring one-third of the country's land under forest. It saw forests mainly as a state asset (something the government owns), useful for earning revenue and supplying industry. The needs of local people and ecology (the balance of living things and their surroundings) came second. The National Forest Policy 1988 later replaced it.
Example
India has still not reached the one-third target. In ISFR 2023 (released December 2024), forest and tree cover together came to only about 25 per cent of the country's area. Class 10 NCERT also notes that forest area has hardly grown since 1960-61.
Don't confuse with
- National Forest Policy 1988: it aims for 33 per cent of the area under forest, and two-thirds in hills and mountains. It puts ecology and local needs before revenue.
Related concepts
- National Forest Policy 1988
- TN Godavarman Thirumulpad case
- Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023
- Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016
- Forest Rights Act 2006