Lok Sabha Question No. 3940 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-04
Subject: National Forest Policy, 2018
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MAHEISH GIRRI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3940 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.01.2019

## National Forest Policy, 2018

## 3940. SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the purpose and goal of the National Forest Policy, 2018;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to revise the existing National Forest Policy, 1988, if so,the time by which the same shall be done;
- (c) whether  the Government  has  formulated  any  draft of National Forest Policy for stakeholder consultation, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  published  any  draft  Notification  on  the  National  Forest Policy,  2018,  inviting  the  objections/comments/suggestions  from  various  stakeholders including public/ private organizations and concerned citizens regarding empanelment of Government  institutions  of  national  repute  for  carrying  out  compliance  monitoring  of environment clearance conditions of projects/activities, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) to (d) To revise the existing National Forest Policy, 1988, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had prepared Draft National Forest Policy, 2018. The purpose of the Draft National Forest Policy, 2018 is to address the issues that have come up during the last 30 years in the management of forests at global, regional and local levels  such  as  issues  of  (a)  global  warming  triggered  due  to  climate  change  (b) increasing demand for wood and wood products in the country (c) use of wood as a carbon  neutral  renewable  resource  (d)  making  the  rivers  clean  and  perennial  (e) water  security  and  ground  water  recharge,    (f)  country's  commitment  to  achieve Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets  and (g) reflecting the role and responsibilities  of  Gram  Sabha,  forest  dwelling  communities  and  Panchayati  Raj Institutions in conservation and management of forests, etc.

The overall goal of the Draft National Forest Policy, 2018 is to safeguard ecological security of the country and sustainably enhance forest based economic opportunities for  livelihood  security  of  forest  dependent  communities,  of the present  and  future generations, based on principles of sustainable management.

Draft National Forest Policy, 2018  was  circulated to all concerned  Central Ministries/Departments  and  State/UT  Governments.  The  Draft  National  Forest

Policy was also placed in the public domain in March, 2018 for inviting comments from various stakeholders viz. Public/Private Sectors, NGOs, Civil Society, Experts and other concerned individuals.

After an exhaustive and wide consultation processes with all major stakeholders and incorporating  their  feedbacks,  the  Draft  National  Forest  Policy,  2018  has  been further  revised.  Monitoring  of  compliances  of  the  conditions  imposed  while according  forest  clearance  has  also  been  proposed  in  the  Draft  National  Forest Policy, 2018. However, the Ministry has not set any time limit for finalization of the new National Forest Policy.

***