Transcript Forest Policy and other instruments and NLBI Rekha Pai

Forest Policy, other instruments and
NLBI
Rekha Pai (IGF)
MoEF
Evolution of NLBI
• UNCED 1992
• IPF/IFF (1995-2000)
• UNFF- 2000
– Established in 2000 with the main objective to
promote
management,
conservation
and
sustainable development of all types of forests
and to strengthen the long term political
commitment to this end
– Universal Membership
Evolution of NLBI (cont’d)
• Adopted at 7th session (28.4.2007) by UNFF
• Adopted on 17.12.2007 by UN GA
• NLBI draws heavily on the Forest Principles,
Agenda 21, Rio declaration, Proposal for
action of IPF/IFF and Johannesburg
declaration on sustainable development
• Applicable for all Forest types, voluntary and
non-legally binding
Evolution of NLBI (cont’d)
• States have sovereign right over natural
resources
• Recognise the need for enhanced international
cooperation including financial support,
technology transfer and capacity building
• The basic postulate of NLBI is to contribute to
management conservation, sustainable
development of forest and to provide for their
multiple and complimentary functions and uses
India’s Position
• Strong policy and legal frame work
Constitutional provisions – 42nd Amendment
Act of 1976: 48-A and 51-A(G)
• Forest Policy – 1988
• Environment Policy 2006
Forest Policy-1988
• Adopted 4 years prior to Earth Summit
• The principal aim of the Forest Policy is to ensure environment
stability and maintenance of ecological balance including
atmospheric equilibrium which are vital for sustenance of all life
forms, human animal and plant. The derivation of direct economic
benefit must be subordinated to this principal aim.
• The elements of the forest policy are in line with NLBI and Forest
Principles
– Forest to be managed to meet the social economic ecological, cultural
spiritual needs of present and future generation
– Promote and provide opportunities for the participation of interested
parties including local communities NGOs Industries, forest dwellers
and women,
– Increase effort for development and strengthening of institutions
Forest Policy-1988 (cont’d)
– Recognise and duly support the identity, culture and
rights of indigenous people, other communities and
forests dwellers
– Full participation of women
– Potential contribution of plantations of both
indigenous and introduced spices for fuel and
industrial goods to be recognised
– Efforts to maintain and increase forest cover and
forest productivity in ecologically, economically and
socially sound ways through rehabilitation,
reforestation and re-establishment of trees and
forests on unproductive, degraded and deforested
lands
Forest Policy-1988 (cont’d)
– Take into account processes and demands
imposed on ecosystem and resources from
influencing factors outside the forestry sector
– Scientific research and forest inventories carried
out by National Institutions to be strengthened
– Capabilities in education, training, science &
technology, economics and social aspects of
forests and forest management to be
strengthened
Forest Policy-1988 (cont’d)
– The main elements include area under forests,
protection of existing forests, afforestation , social
forestry, farm forestry, rights and concessions,
forestry education research, personnel
management and financial support.
– The elements not articulated in policy are
monitoring and evaluation, value chain concept
and international cooperation.
Environment Policy-2006
• The Policy recognises the need for balance and
harmony between economic, social and
environmental needs of the country
• The dominant theme of the policy is that while
conservation of Environmental resources is
necessary to secure livelihood and wellbeing of
all, the most secure basis for conservation is to
ensure that people dependant on particular
resources obtain better livelihoods from the fact
of the conservation than from degradation of the
source
Environment Policy-2006 (cont’d)
• Three foundational aspirations
– Human beings should be able to enjoy a decent
quality of life
– Humanity should become capable of respecting
the finiteness of the biosphere
– Neither the aspiration for good life nor the
recognition of the biophysical limits should
preclude the search for greater justice in world
Environment Policy-2006 (cont’d)
• Policy seeks to stimulate the partnership of
different stake holder i.e. public agencies,
local communities, academic and scientific
institutions , investment communities and
international development partners in
harnessing their respective resources and
strengths for environment management
Forests in the Indian context
• There are approximately 173 000 forest fringe
villages
• Around 280 million people live in and around
forest and are dependant on the forests
energy, food, water and economic security
• Forest are integral to the adaptation and
mitigation strategies in the context of Climate
Change
Management Strategy
• Forest Policy adopts a people centric approach
• Joint Forest Management (JFM) approach
based on philosophy of care and share.
• Panchayati Raj Act (73rd amendment)
• Recognition of Forests Rights Act -2006
• Village bodies i.e. Gram Sabha / Gram
Panchayat to play a bigger role in future
programs ( GIM, MNREGA)
Current Scenario
• Stabilized forest cover; however, quality continues to be an
area of concern
• Weak monitoring and reporting systems
– FSI
– Restricted to forest cover only
– Need to enhance the scope to cover all the 7 thematic areas of
SFM
• Capacity of various agencies
• Convergence and linkages with other related agencies
• Inadequate means of implementation
– Financial resources
– Technology
– Capacity
Thank You