Section 1 in The Chhattisgarh State Forest Policy, 2001
1. Preamble.
- 1.1. The GOI vide resolution No. 3-1/1986/FP, dated the 7th December, 1988, enunciated a National Forest Policy that provided a national perspective on forest management problems and specified actions required for tackling them.1.2The new State of Chhattisgarh came into being on 1st November, 2000. There is a necessity to review the situation and to evolve for the future, a new strategy of forest conservation, which encompasses the special characteristics of the State as well as provides it a new direction. Since forest is a concurrent subject under the Constitution of the country, the State's forest policy has to remain in tune with the current National Forest Policy.1.3The State of Chhattisgarh, lying between 17°46'N to 24°6'N latitude and 80°15' E, to 84°51'E longitude, has about 44 per cent of its geographical area (135, 224 sq. km.) under forests and provides catchement to at least four main river systems, i.e., Mahanadi, Godavari, Narmada and Ganges. Major rivers of the State are Mahanadi, Indravati, Hasdeo, Sheonath, Arpa and Ibb. The climate of the State is generally sub-humid with an annual rainfall ranging from 1200 to 1500 mm.1.4Over the years, the forests in the State have suffered serious depletion. This can be attributed to relentless pressures arising from ever-increasing demand for fuelwood, fodder and timber, inadequacy of protection measures; diversion of forest lands to non-forest uses without ensuring compensatory afforestation and essential environment safe-guards; and the tendency to look upon forests as a venue earning resource.1.5The forests of the State fall under two major forest types, i.e. Tropical Moist deciduous forest and the Tropical Dry deciduous forest, sal (Shorea robusta) and Teak (Tectona grandis) are the two major tree species in the State. Other notable overwood species are Bija (Pterocarpus marsupium), Saja (Terminalia tomentosa), Dhawra (Anogeissus latifolia), Mahua (Madhuca indica), Tendu (diospyros melanoxylon) etc., Amla (embilica officinalis), Karra (Cleistanthus collinus) and bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) constitute a significant chunk of middle canopy of the State's forests.1.6Biogeographically, the State falls in deccan bio-region comprising representative fauna of central India like the tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), gaur (Bos gaurus), sambhar (Cervus unicolor), chital (Axis axis), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). The State is a proud possessor of rare wildlife like the wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and hill myna (Gracula religiosa) which have been declared as the State animal and bird respectively.1.7The State is richly endowed with mineral resources like the coal, iron, bauxite, limestone, corundum, diamond, gold, tin, etc., which fall mainly within the forests of the State.1.8The population of the State is predominantly tribal, who have significant economic and cultural dependence on the forests of the State. There is a large population of non-tribal landless and economically backward communities in the State who derive livelihood security from the forest of the State.
