India is one of the few countries which have a forest policy since 1894. It was revised in 1952 and again in 1988. The main plank of the forest policy is protection, conservation and development of forests. Its aims are:

1. Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and restoration of ecological balance
2. Conservation of natural heritage
3. Check on soil erosion and denudation in catchment areas of rivers, lakes and reservoirs
4. Check on extension of sand dunes in desert areas of Rajasthan and along coastal tracts
5. Substantial increase in forest tree cover through massive afforestation and social forestry programmes
6. Steps to meet requirements of fuel wood, fodder, minor forest produce and soil timber for rural and tribal populations
7. Increase in productivity of forests to meet the national need
8. Encouragement to efficient utilization of forest produce and optimum substitution of wood and
9. Steps to create massive people's movement with involvement of women to achieve the objectives and minimise pressure on existing forests.

As forestry has undergone many conceptual changes since the adoption of Indian Forest Act, 1927, it was decided to bring suitable amendments to this Act. The tenure of the Commission was extended upto 31st March, 2006. A National Forestry Action Programme (NFAP) has also been formulated as a comprehensive strategic long-term plan for the next 20 years. The objective of the NFAP is to bring one-third of the area of the country under tree/forest cover and to arrest deforestation. Pursuant upon the recommendation made by the Indian Board of Wildlife in its 21st Meeting held on January 21, 2002 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, the National Forest Commission, with Justice B.N. Kirpal, ex-Chief Justice of India as chairman and six other members was constituted vide resolution dated 7th February,2003 of Ministry of Environment & Forests. After interacting with various stakeholders and State/UT Government, the Commission submitted its report to the Hon'ble Prime Ministry on March 28,2006.

The Report has 23 chapters, of which 20 chapters from 2 to 21, deal with various subjects like "Forest Policy", Legal Framework", "Forest Administration", "Personal Management", etc. However realizing the importance of specific issues, topics like "Forests of North East" "Agro Forestry and Social Forestry", "Forests in Natural Resources Accounting" and "Financial Support" have been dealt with in separate chapters.

There are 360 recommendations in the report. Action on these recommendations is to be taken by Government of India as well as State Governments. Some Salient features of the recommendations are as follows:

• No change has been suggested in NFP, 1988.
• Need to undertake scientific research to assess the optimum forest/tree cover according to forest type and topography to meet the intended objectives has been emphasized.
• Mendment of Indian Forest Act, 1927.
• Forest Department should implement the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Environment Protection Act.
• No amendment and further dilution to Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
• Re-scheduling of species under Wildlife Protection Act to avoid man-animal conflict etc.

Integrated Forest Protection Scheme

The IFPS has been formulated by the merger of two schemes of the 9th Five Year Plan viz. 'Forest Fire Control and Management and 'Bridging up of Infrastructural Gaps in the Forestry Sector in the North Eastern Region and Sikkim. It is operational from 2002-03. The scheme covers all the States and UTs for the 10th Five Year Plan period. The Central Sector Component of the scheme is implemented by the Ministry in association with other organizations.

Wildlife

The National Wildlife Action Plan provides the framework of the strategy as well as the programme for conservation of wildlife. The first National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) of 1983 has been revised and the new Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) has been adopted. The Indian Board of Wildlife, headed by the Prime Minister, is the apex advisory body overseeing and guiding the implementation of various schemes for wildlife conservation.

The Third meeting of the National Board for Wildlife was held on June 19, 2006 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Prime Minister. The important decisions taken during the meeting include an alternate home for lions; survey for assessing the current status of peacocks in the country; preparation of an action plan for conservation of the red jungle fowl; identification of wetlands outside the Protected Area system for conservation etc.

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was amended in 2006 to incorporate the creation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The amendment was notified on September 4, 2006. The first meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority was held on November 6, 2006.

Project Tiger was launched in 1973 with a mandate to conserve tigers in a holistic manner. Its mandate was to be fulfilled by facilitating focused, concerted management of ecotypical reserves in various sates, constituted on a core-buffer strategy through funding the technical support including site-specific inputs to elicit local community support for conservation. The Project has been successfully implemented and at present there are 28 Tiger Reserves in 17 States, covering an area of 37,761 sq. km. This has now been renamed as the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Under the Project Elephant, which was launched in February 1992, States that have a free-ranging population of wild elephants are being given financial as well as technical and scientific assistance to ensure long-term survival of identified viable populations of elephants in their natural habitats.

Twenty five Elephant Reserves were notified by various state governments and consents were given for three, Baitarani and South Orissa in Orissa and Ganga-Jamuna in UP.

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) was created by the Government through an amendment of Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1992 to enforce minimum standards and norms for the upkeep and healthcare of animals in Indian Zoos and to restrain mushrooming of unplanned and ill conceived zoos that were cropping up as adjuncts to public parks, industrial complexes and the wayside.

A national policy on zoos prepared by the Authority provides appropriate directions to the Government and other zoo operators.

The Animal Welfare Division became a part of the Ministry of Environment of Forests in July 2002. Earlier, the Division was under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The mandate of the Animal Welfare Division is to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals. The main task of the Division is to implement effectively the various provisions of prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Under this Act, a number of Rules have been framed for various purposes.

A National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW) at Ballabhgarh, Faridabad has been established to impart training and education in animal welfare and veterinary science. The institute aims at creating an enabling environment for the fulfillment of statutory requirements under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is a statutory body under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 with its headquarters at Chennai. Its basic mandate is to advise the Government on animal welfare issues, and create awareness regarding animal welfare. AWBI gives financial assistance to the eligible Animal Welfare Organisations for Shelter Houses, Model Gaushalas, for setting up Bio-Gas Plants, Famine/Drought Relief, Earthquake Relief, etc., in the various states.