Evaluation Report on Social Forestry Programme

Abstract

The importance of forest as preserver of eco-systems and supplier of wood, timber and other forest products is universally recognised. In India, out of 329 million hects. of total geographical 75 million hects., about 23 per cent, is under recorded forest area. According to the National Forest Policy, one-third of the total geographical area should be under forest cover. Even the existing forests have been greatly denuded and rendered poorer in quality over the last three decades due to encroachment and wanton exploitation of resources without natural regeneration. This has not only seriously affected ecological balance in the country but has also resulted in soil erosion, floods, droughts and heavy siltation in lakes and water reservoirs. the large scale denuding of forests has also created wide gaps between demand and supply of forest products, especially fuelwood, the most important fuel for rural and urban poor.