Section 3 in The Chhattisgarh State Forest Policy, 2001
3. Essentials of forest management.
- 3.1. Existing forest and forest lands should be fully protected and their productivity increased. It is necessary to promote efficient methods of timber harvest and utilisation to maximize economic returns from the forests.3.2The network of national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves and other protected areas should be strengthened and extended adequately for the conservation of total bio-cultural diversity in the State.3.3Targeting on broad range of goods and services in terms of physical, material, human, social, cultural and environmental assets in conjunction with appropriate entitlement regime, People's Protected Area (PPA) envisions a proactive and people's friendly framework to ensure long terms protection and maintenance of biological diversity and providing at the same time a sustainable flow of natural products and services to meet local community needs. Therefore, a network of PPAs should be established as poor people's pool of assets for strengthening livelihood security of forest dwellers.3.4Provision of sufficient fodder, fuel and small timber to local people, especially in areas adjoining forests, is necessary to prevent further depletion of forests beyond their sustainable capacity. As fuelwood continues to be the predominant source of domestic energy in rural areas, the programme of afforestation should be intensified with special emphasis on augmenting fuelwood production to meet the requirements of the people. Further-more, to reduce the pressure on forests due to increasing demand for fuelwood, its substitution by alternative sources of energy should be promoted.3.5Minor Forest Produce (MFP) including medicinal plants provide sustenance to the tribal population and to other communities residing in and around the forests. Such produce should be protected, improved and their non-destructive harvesting methods enhanced with due regard to providing employment and income generation opportunities to the dependent people.MFP is the major source of livelihood of tribals and other forest based rural communities. Therefore, rather than exporting MFP in raw form, efforts should be made, as far as possible, to promote processing and value addition of the same, at the local level.3.6Supply of timber and poles to urban centres from non-forest sources is necessary to reduce pressure on natural forests. Therefore, State Government should encourage agro-forestry, farm forestry and on-farm cultivation of timber trees.3.7Establishment of appropriate instruments including policy and legislative measures to protect the rich bio-cultural heritage of the State in view of increasing threats of bio-piracy and infringement of IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) from within and outside the State.3.8All forest areas in the State should be managed in accordance with duly approved management/working plan.
