Question : Productivity of Forests

(a) whether the productivity of Indian forests is very low;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether growing awareness about environmental degradation has forced us to look at forest wealth as a protective agent for environment rather than a commercial commodity and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether there is any policy to grow commercial forests and maintain the balance between commercial and environmental outlook towards forests; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)& (b) Yes, Madam. Against the global average productivity of 2.1 million m3/hectare/ year, the productivity of Indian Forest is around 0.7 million m3/ hectare/ year. The low productivity is attributed to anthropological pressure (i.e. excessive exploitation of forest resources by human population), unsustainable grazing, climatic, edaphic and physiographic factors, forest fire, etc.

(c) Yes, Madam. Growing awareness about environmental degradation has been a major factor that has led to look at forests wealth as a protective agent, rather than a commercial commodity. Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and National Forest Policy, 1988 increasingly emphasized the role of forests for promoting environmental and ecological stability through preservation and restoration of ecological balance. National Forest Policy, 1988 also mention that as far as possible the forest based industry should raise the raw material needed for meeting its own requirements, preferably by establishment of plantation outside forest.

(d) & (e) At present, there is no such policy.

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