The Draft National Forest Policy 2018 is in essence a blueprint to
commercialize forests to serve the interests of industry and to bring in the private sector for the actual management of forests through the so- called public private partnership model. If allowed, this will also pave the way for changing the character of natural forests to production or plantation forests, and undermining the wide range of ecological and social services provided by them. This is in contrast to the 1988 Forest Policy
document which had subordinated commercial goals and private profit to the maintenance of ecological balance, protection of bio- diversity and assertion of the rights of forest dwellers to non-timber forest produce for sustenance and livelihoods.
commercialize forests to serve the interests of industry and to bring in the private sector for the actual management of forests through the so- called public private partnership model. If allowed, this will also pave the way for changing the character of natural forests to production or plantation forests, and undermining the wide range of ecological and social services provided by them. This is in contrast to the 1988 Forest Policy
document which had subordinated commercial goals and private profit to the maintenance of ecological balance, protection of bio- diversity and assertion of the rights of forest dwellers to non-timber forest produce for sustenance and livelihoods.
The privatization and commercialization thrust dominates the Policy document and runs through several sections and clauses throughout the document. The emphasis is on increasing forest plantations and shockingly the afforestation and reforestation program is also to be dedicated to this goal. In other words afforestation is in the main to consist of planting
commercially useful timber. The ostensible reason for the emphasis in increasing forest plantations at the cost of everything else is to make wood the substitute for more carbon emitting products under the slogan "wood is good." This perspective gives priority to the role of forests in carbon
sequestration in preference to the other ecological and social services provided by forests, such as water recharge, checking soil erosion and providing fuel, fodder and other useful products to forest-dwelling communities.
commercially useful timber. The ostensible reason for the emphasis in increasing forest plantations at the cost of everything else is to make wood the substitute for more carbon emitting products under the slogan "wood is good." This perspective gives priority to the role of forests in carbon
sequestration in preference to the other ecological and social services provided by forests, such as water recharge, checking soil erosion and providing fuel, fodder and other useful products to forest-dwelling communities.
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