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Social forestry in India: concept and schemes

Technical Report · November 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1652.4243

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 Van Sangyan Vol. 2, No. 11, Issue: November, 2015
(ISSN 2395 - 468X)
Year - 2015 Vol. 2, No. 11 Issue: November 2015

Van Sangyan
A monthly open access e-magazine

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Tropical Forest Research Institute
(Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education)
PO RFRC, Mandla Road, Jabalpur – 482021
 Van Sangyan Vol. 2, No. 11, Issue: November, 2015

Social forestry in India: concept and schemes

Vikas Kumar
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara
Kerala Agricultural University, KAU, Thrissur, Kerala 680656, India

Widespread loss of tree vegetation in the well as in the management of forest

developing world in the past few decades resources. It was felt that by taking up the
led to the emergence of social forestry. It programme of raising trees, grasses and
was a response to meet the growing fodder in the farmers own lands, village
scarcity of biomass and to preserve the commons, wastelands and degraded forests
environment. Several countries in the close to habitations. It would be possible
developing world launched this type of to meet the requirements of fuel wood,
programme to meet the demands of an fodder, small timber for rural housing and
expanding population for fuel, fodder and agricultural implements etc.
timber. Social forestry was new approach In our country the concept of social
to solve the problem of fuel scarcity with forestry is not new. It is found in the
the participation of rural people who preachings of Buddha about 2500 years
would plant, tend and maintain trees by ago. Lord Buddha preached that every
themselves. The species planted would be good Buddhist should plant one tree and
of their choice. People‟s Republic of China look after it over five years so that it grows
was one of the first countries to embark on to a full tree and in this way he should
a major community reforestation plant about 5 trees in his life time.
programme. A massive nationwide The Great Emperor Ashoka is credited to
campaign was launched during 1950s as a have got planted shady trees and fruit trees
means of replenishing the country‟s stock long the roadsides for the benefit of
of trees depleted by the previous decades travellers. During early period of British
of war and overexploitation. By early rule, need for industrial expansion and
seventies, the problem of deforestation and communication required timber from the
environmental degradation were expressed forests. Attempts made by the British were
at International Conference at Stockholm simply to reserve and demarcate forests for
during 1972 bringing in to sharp focus the their industrial needs. No significance was
changes required in policies towards attached to important role of trees to the
environment and the crisis of tree local population.
depletion. In the monumental Report on
Social forestry was first recognized as an Improvement of Indian Agriculture (1893)
important component of forestry Voelcker observed that forests had not
development and meeting the rural need in been preserved. His observation on
the Interim Report of the National keeping aside village forests for the local
Commission on Agriculture on social people was probably the first observation
forestry during 1972. The commission of importance of forests to people‟s
stressed on the socioeconomic importance economy.
of social forestry for rural community as Afforestation in the post independence
period can be divided in to three phases. In

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 Van Sangyan Vol. 2, No. 11, Issue: November, 2015

the first phase ‘Van Mahotsav’ was 3. Planting along roadsides.

started in fifties which failed to attract 4. Planting in village common lands and
attention largely due to ignorance at all waste lands.
levels. In the second phase, farm forestry 5. Planting along the railway lines and
was started in some states in the 1970‟s. canal banks.
The third phase was the period when social 6. Planting small wood lot in farm lands
forestry programme actually took off in if it is large.
eighties with massive programmes and 7. Planting foreshore areas of irrigation
ambitious targets. tanks.
Concept of social forestry 8. Reclamination of highly degraded and
The word Social forestry was coined by eroded soils.
Westoby and used in the Ninth 9. Afforestation of command areas of
Commonwealth Forestry Congress in irrigation projects.
1968. According to Prasad (1985) Objectives of social forestry
“Forestry outside the conventional forests Social forestry, schemes that have been
which primarily aims at providing started all over the country have made a
continuous flow of goods and services for considerable difference in overall forest
the benefit of people". This definition cover in a short time. Afforestation outside
implies that the production of forest goods the conventional forest area for the benefit
for the needs of the local people is Social of rural and urban communities. The
forestry. Social‟ forestry is „social‟ in the objectives of Social forestry adopted by
sense of being socially configured, that is, the Commission (1976) were based on the
adaptable, dynamic, and responsive to the economic needs of the community aimed
context and social environment. Social at improving the conditions of living. They
forestry projects take varying forms are:
depending on the particular (political, (i) To fulfill the basic requirements
economic, cultural, ecological) such as fuel, fodder, small timber,
environment and remain flexible because supplementary food and income
of the „social creativity‟ of the from surplus forest products to the
participating interest groups shaping this rural area and replacement of
forest management. Social viability and cowdung.
social integration as described above are, (ii) To provide employment
besides, only forthcoming when social opportunities and to increase
forestry reacts flexibly to the development family income considerable for
of new constellations of interests, to alleviating poverty.
alterations in the pressure for exploitation (iii) To develop cottage industries in
and to changes in frameworks. rural areas.
Simply it is the practice of forestry of the (iv) To organize them in their struggle
people, forestry by the people and forestry for socioeconomic development
for the people. The social forestry and to integrate economic gains in
practices include the following: the distribution of their benefits to
1. Raising wind breakes on dry farm the rural society.
lands.
2. Planting shelterbelt.

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 Van Sangyan Vol. 2, No. 11, Issue: November, 2015

(v) To provide congenial environment forestry, extension forestry, reforestation

and preserve their cultural identity in degraded forests and recreation forestry.
as their life related to forest. Farm forestry
(vi) To indoctrinate the value of village Farm forestry is the name given to
level self sufficiency and self programmes which promote commercial
management in the production as tree growing by farmers on their own land
well as distribution of forest Farm forestry was defined by NCA (1976)
products with social justice. as the practice of forestry in all its aspects
(vii) To form the villagers into a well- in and the around the farms or village
knit community and an effective lands integrated with other farm
functional unit of society which operations.
can shape its own destiny. Extension forestry
(viii) To play a vital role in the Extension forestry is the practice of
reclamation of degraded lands, forestry in areas devoid of tree growth and
conservation of soil and moisture, other vegetation situated in places away
improvement of agricultural from the conventional forest areas with the
production and prevention of object of increasing the area under tree
environmental deterioration. growth. It includes the following.
(ix) To increase the natural beauty of Mixed forestry
the landscape, create recreational Mixed forestry is the practice of forestry
forests for the benefit of rural and for raising fodder grass with scattered
urban population. fodder trees, fruit trees and fuel wood trees
(x) To protection of agricultural fields on suitable wastelands, panchayat lands
against wind speed and natural and village commons
calamity. Shelterbelts
(xi) To solve the food problem of the Shelterbelt is defined as a belt of trees and
rural area to a great extent. Certain or shrubs maintained for the purpose of
edible fruits like cashew, mango, shelter from wind, sun, snow drift, etc.
coconut and palms have high Linear strip plantations
nutritional value and grow under These are the plantations of fast growing
social forestry programme. species on linear strips of land
(xii) To utilize the available land Rehabilitation of degraded forests
according to its carrying capacity. The degraded area under forests needs
Scope of the social forestry immediate attention for ecological
The main scopes of the social forestry are restoration and for meeting the socio
1. Avenue planting in cities. economic needs of the communities living
2. Establishment of industrial shelter belt. in and around such areas.
3. Management of urban parks and wild Recreation forestry
life parks. Recreation forestry is the practice of
4. Urban composites management and forestry with the object of raising
efficient recycling. flowering trees and shrubs mainly to serve
Components of social forestry as recreation forests for the urban and rural
The scope or components of social forestry population. This type of forestry is also
defined by the Commission includes farm known as Aesthetic forestry which is

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 Van Sangyan Vol. 2, No. 11, Issue: November, 2015

defined as the practice of forestry with the  They should not have prominent thorns
object of developing or maintaining a and their planting and caring should be
forest of high scenic value. easier and economical.
Benefits of social forestry  Species should be multipurpose in use
 Increase the supply of fuel wood and for firewood, fodder, food, oil, tanning
fodder material, host of silk or tussar worms
 Generate rural employment or lac insects etc.
 Maintain ecological balance The following multipurpose tree species
 Appropriate use of wastelands commonly used in social forestry
 Promote village and cottage industries Acacia nilotica, Ailanthus excels, Albizzia
 Induce environmental and tree procera, Albizzia lebbek, Anacardium
consciousness among people occidentale, Artocarpus heterophyllus,
 Relieve pressures from natural forests Azadirachta indica, Bahinea speices,
 Stabilize agricultural production Casuarina equisetifolia, cocus nucifera,
Criteria for choice of species section for Dalbergia sissoo, Emblica officinalis,
social forestry Eucalyptus spp., Gmelina arborea,
In order to implement schemes of social Maduca latifolia, Mangifera indica, Morus
forestry, the first important consideration alba, Pongamia pinnata, Populus spp.,
is the choice of species to be planted. As Syzygium cumini, Tamarindus indica,
this depends on several factors, it is Terminalia spp. and Ziziphus mauratiana.
necessary to know the considerations Achievements of social forestry
which govern the choice of species.  Increased area under tree cover.
 Trees constitute the major component  Increased production of industrial
and other components like grasses, timbers, firewood and fodder.
bushes, fodder and even crops tend to  Increased employment opportunities
be relegated to secondary position. for the rural poor.
 Trees suitable for road side planting  Improvement in environment.
should be hardy, evergreen or winter  Enhance the conservation of soil and
deciduous, wind firm, fast growing at water table.
least in the early stages and fairly tall. Important schemes being implemented
 Species should be suited to climatic, for social forestry
edaphic, physiographic and biotic  Aerial seedling.
factors.  Area-oriented fuelwood and fodder
 Tree for farm forestry should have scheme.
long tap roots, attenuated and winter  Awards.
deciduous crown so that they may not  Categorisation and identification of
affect the productivity of the wastelands.
agricultural crop.  Decentralised nurseries programmes.
 Tree should have attractive crowns and  Externally aided projects.
shrubs should be amenable to pruning  Grands-in-aid to voluntary agencies.
into attractive crown shapes.  Greening of Himalayas.
 Margin money assistance scheme.
 Operation soil watch.

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 Van Sangyan Vol. 2, No. 11, Issue: November, 2015

 Promotion of Co-Operatives.
 Rural fuelwood plantation scheme.
 Scheme on minor forest produce.
 Silvipasture scheme.
 Tree Patta scheme.
Constraints in obtaining people’s
participation in Social forestry
 Antipathy to trees.
 Credit schemes, market support
measures and tax rules.
 Lack of appropriate technology.
 Lacking of appropriate policies and
public awareness.
 Lacking of suitable organization.
 Most people show future ignoring
behavior.
 Small size of holdings and land
ownership.
 Social forestry generates common
property resource.

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