1

HARYANA FOREST POLICY, 2006

Preamble

The first National Forest Policy pronounced in 1894 was promulgated with the
objective of managing the forests to promote general well being of the country. The policy
was revised in 1952, which aimed at bringing balance between conservation and production.

The 1952 policy was revised by the Government of India vide resolution no. 3-
1/1986-FP dated 7th December, 1988. New National Forest Policy of 1988 marks a major
shift from 1952 forest policy with emphasis on conservation and meeting the local needs.
The Principal aim of the National Forest Policy, 1988 (NFP) is to ensure environmental
stability and maintenance of ecological balance. The derivation of direct economic benefit is
subordinate to this principal aim. The policy stresses on massive people’s involvement
including women, for achieving the objectives.

However, considering the fact that the national canvass is too large to address the
location specific scene and that Haryana is a small state in the Gangetic plains with very
little natural forests, it is necessary to have a State Forest Policy within the framework of the
national forest policy.

1. The State of Haryana

Haryana is a small State in the Gangetic plains meeting Shiwalik foothills in the
north, Aravallis in the south-west and arid plains in the west. It has a geographic area of 4.42
million hectare with 20 districts and 6759 villages. Population of the State is 21.08 million
of which rural population constitutes 71%. About 20% population is of scheduled castes and
there is no scheduled tribe in the State. Population density in the State is 477 persons per sq.
km and literacy is about 69%. Rainfall in the State varies from less than 300 mm in south-
west to more than 1300 mm in the north and temperature varies from 1 degree to 47 degree
Celsius. Agriculture is the main land use of the State (81% area under agriculture).

The State’s total forest area is spread over 0.155 million hectare (about 3.52%). Out
of this 15.99% are reserved, 74.36% protected, 1.06% unclassed and 8.59% other notified
forests. Forest types of Haryana are Tropical Dry Deciduous in north-eastern region;
Tropical Moist Deciduous in Shiwalik region; and Tropical Thorn Forests in western region.

The State, with 1.35% area of country’s land mass has only 0.2% forest area (0.155
million ha including 27975 ha under protected area network in its two National Parks at
Kalesar and Sultanpur and 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries). It is an intensively cultivated State,
deficient in natural forests. Per capita forest area in the State is 0.007 ha against the national
average of 0.08 ha. Some of the flora and fauna are on the verge of extinction.

Besides the above forest area, State has developed plantation forests on community
lands and agro-forests over 3.2% of its geographical area. At present, the total area under

2
forest and tree cover is about 6.63%, (State Forest Report 2003), much below the national
goal of one-third area under forest and tree cover.

Joint Forest Management in Haryana was started in the year 1972 but government
notification in this regard was issued in 1990 after GOI resolution dated 1.6.1990. At present
more than 1000 Village Forest Committees are participating in the management of degraded
Govt. forests and common land plantations.

Activities of Forest Department include conservation of natural forests and wildlife

habitat, conservation of soil and water, raising plantations on forest lands, common lands
and Institutional lands; and promotion of agro-forestry through distribution of quality
seedlings to farmers and institutions.

2. Objectives

2.1 The basic objectives that should govern the State Forest Policy of Haryana are;

• Afforestation for maintenance of environmental stability and restoration of

ecological balance affected by serious depletion of forests, woodlands and
water.

• Conserving bio-diversity in natural forests of the State, containing genetic

resource base of the rare species.

• Development and protection of habitat in protected areas.

• Conservation and development of water resources in forests.

• Checking the denudation of forests.

• Increasing the productivity of forests to meet the essential needs of people on

sustainable basis by using genetically superior seedlings and better
management practices.

• Checking soil erosion in the catchments of the rivers, rivulets and reservoirs
for soil and water conservation.

• Checking the extension of sand dunes in the semi-arid areas of the State to
save the infrastructure in that region.

• Reclamation of salt effected areas irrespective of the ownership by

afforestation techniques.

• Increasing tree cover in the State through afforestation and social forestry
programmes on wastelands.

3
 • Production of industrial wood from non-forest lands by promoting agro-
forestry.

• Encouraging efficient utilisation of forest produce and also promoting wood

substitutes.

• Creating a massive people’s movement with the involvement of women and

school children, for achieving these objectives and to minimise pressure on
natural forests.

• Institution building at village level for Joint Forest Management and

participation in Forestry activities.

• Formation of self help groups, particularly of women for their empowerment

through forestry based and other income generation activities.

• Conservation and development of medicinal plants.

• Development of eco-tourism.

• Development of timber markets for stabilizing the prices of forest produce.

3. Essentials of Forest Management

3.1 Existing forests and forestlands should be fully protected. Forest and vegetal cover
should be rapidly increased on hill slopes of Shivaliks and Aravallis; in catchments
of rivers, rivulets and water reservoirs; on semiarid, and arid tracts and on all
available wastelands.

3.2 Soil and water conservation measures should be under taken and water should be
harvested by constructing earthen dams and sub-surface dams to meet the basic
water requirements of the people living in and around forests.

3.3 National parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas should be well protected for
conservation of bio-diversity.

3.4 Agro-forestry and afforestation of non-forest lands should be promoted for

increasing wood production.

3.5 Fuelwood continues to be the predominant source of energy in rural areas. The
programme of afforestation should, therefore, be strengthened with emphasis on
augmenting fuel wood production to meet the requirement of rural people.

3.6 Medicinal plants and other Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP) should be protected,
improved and their production enhanced.

4
3.7 Degraded natural forests near villages should be taken up for Joint management with
village institutions on usufruct sharing basis, following the provisions of approved
working plan of the forest area.

4. Strategy

4.1 Area under Forest and Tree Cover

National Forest Policy 1988 has set a goal to bring one third of Country’s
area under forest and tree cover. Such a goal can’t be achieved in the state of
Haryana (81% of land under agriculture). Our goal is to bring forest and tree cover to
10% by the year 2010 so as to realise the ultimate goal of 20% in a phased manner.
This can only be achieved through agro-forestry on Farm lands and tree plantation on
all waste lands in the State.

4.2 Afforestation, Social Forestry and Farm Forestry

4.2.1 It is a State imperative to take up intensive afforestation programmes for bringing

about maximum possible areas, whether forest or non-forest land, under tree cover.

4.2.2 To increase green cover in the State, it is necessary to encourage the planting of trees
alongside roads, railway lines, canals, rivers, rivulets and streams, and other
unutilised lands under Central Government and corporate, institutional or private
ownership. Green belts should be raised in urban/ industrial areas as well as in arid
tracts. Such a programme will help to check erosion and desertification as well as
improve Industrial and Urban environment.

4.2.3 Agro-forestry and farm-forestry are very essential for increasing the tree cover in the
State and to meet the raw material needs of wood based Industries. The annual turn
over by the agro forestry and farm forestry activities in the state is to the tune of Rs.
450-500 crore per year. More emphasis should be given to raising plants of
commercial value like Eucalyptus, Poplar, Shisham etc. not only to enhance the
income of the farmers associated with agro-forestry activity but also to make enough
raw material available for wood based industries. They should be provided good
quality planting stock of suitable species and technical assistance. Development of
infrastructure to consume tree produce from farm lands should be encouraged by the
Government. All degraded and marginal lands in private ownership should be put
under tree plantations.

4.2.4 Village panchayat and community lands should be taken up for the development of
tree crops and fodder resources on sustainable basis. The Government should
provide technical assistance, initial funding and other inputs necessary for
plantations on such lands. Plantation on these lands should be done through people’s
participation with total involvement of village community through village
institutions. Such institutions should be strengthened to take up programme of tree

5
 and fodder development on common lands on sustainable basis. A Management Plan
of all the afforested panchayat land should be prepared in consultation with
panchayat. Once the afforested area is handed over to panchayat, it would be
managed, felled and utilized by panchayat in accordance with the Management Plan.
The revenue generated through such programmes should belong to the village
Institutions to be utilized for various developmental works in the village including
sustainable management of plantations

4.2.5 Self Help Groups should be created in the villages for micro-financing and income
generation of the people living below the poverty line to raise their living standards.
These Self Help Groups should be given proper training to start their micro
enterprises for self-employment and income generation.

4.3 Conservation and Propagation of Medicinal Plants

4.3.1 Lack of scientific management and destructive harvesting has threatened the
existence of medicinal plants in nature. Over extraction to meet the market demand
has resulted in decline in their number and destruction of their habitat. This has led
to extinction of some medicinal plant species while a large number of them are
endangered. Steps should, therefore, be taken for in-situ conservation of medicinal
plants in the Shiwaliks and other parts of State.

4.3.2 Herbal parks and Herbal Gyan Kendras should be set up in each district to educate
people about the traditional Indian system of medicine for generating awareness,
preserving gene pool and production of quality seeds and seedlings for distribution to
farmers. Farmers should also be encouraged for ex-situ cultivation and propagation
of medicinal plants to save the natural biodiversity and income generation. Enabling
environment should be created to facilitate marketing of medicinal plants.

4.4 Management of State Forests

4.4.1 Natural forests in Shivaliks and Aravallis should be well protected. Such forests
should be surveyed and demarcated by fixing permanent boundary pillars.

4.4.2 Wildlife habitat in forests should be developed and protected. Plantation in wildlife
sanctuaries should be done only with suitable indigenous species. Water points
should be created for wildlife. Eco-tourism may be developed in such areas with
minimum interference to habitat and wildlife.

4.4.3 Soil and water conservation works should be done wherever necessary to preserve
the source of water and natural springs. Water should be harvested at appropriate
places for optimum use by the communities living around the forests. Water is the
biggest incentive to village communities for their participation in protection and
development of forests.

6
4.4.4 All the problematic lands such as salt affected lands, waterlogged areas, banks of
rivers and rivulets up to 50 meters, and sand dune areas should be reclaimed and
stabilized through tree plantation techniques, irrespective of ownership. The
objective of such plantations should be amelioration of environment and not
production.

4.4.5 Degraded forest areas near habitations should be regenerated with the involvement of
local communities. Rules for Joint Forest Management in such areas should be made
by the State Government and reviewed from time to time.

4.4.6 While it is important to increase the productivity of forests, in the context of Haryana
where the natural forest resource is minimum, the conservation of bio- diversity
becomes more important. Therefore, to promote bio-diversity conservation linear
strips may be put to productive use but the block forests like that of Shiwaliks
should gradually be planted with lesser known indigenous species to the extent
possible.

4.4.7 All trees in strip forests with a girth of 30 cm and above should be enumerated and
recorded in enumeration registers. Record of enumeration should be computerized
and hard copies of these records should be available in all management units right up
to Range Forest Office.

4.4.8 No forest should be worked without an approved working plan, which should be
written in the prescribed format and in line with the objectives of the State Forest
Policy. The working plans should be reviewed from time to time and its
implementation should be monitored regularly.

4.4.9 In order to meet the growing needs for essential goods and services, which the
forests provide, it is necessary to enhance the productivity of forests through
scientific and technical inputs. Production forestry programmes should be oriented to
meet State wood needs and narrowing the gap between demand and supply of
fuelwood, pulpwood, and timber. Substitution of wood should be encouraged to
relieve the pressure on forests. Similarly, on domestic energy front, fuelwood needs
to be substituted as far as possible with alternate sources like bio-gas, LPG and solar
energy. Fuel-efficient “Chulhas” as a measure of conservation of fuelwood need to
be popularised in rural areas.

4.4.10 Rights and Concessions

4.4.10.1 The rights and concessions, including grazing, should be related to the carrying
capacity of forests or plantation area. Stall feeding of cattle should be encouraged.
The requirements of the community, which cannot be met by the rights and
concessions so determined, should be met by development of social forestry outside

7
 the reserve and protected forests i.e. from plantations on common lands of that
village.

4.4.10.2 The holders of customary rights and concessions in forest areas should be
motivated to identify themselves with the protection and development of forests
from which they derive benefits. The right holders should be motivated to protect
the forests against fire, grazing and encroachments. They should also participate in
protection of wildlife and their habitat.

4.4.10.3 Owners of agricultural lands along strip forests would be entitled to 50% share of
wood produce from rows of trees upto 10 ft. from their agriculture lands. Such share
would be subject to proof of ownership of agriculture land.

4.5 Diversion of Forest Lands for non-forestry purposes

4.5.1 Forest land should not be treated merely as a source readily available to be utilised
for various projects and programmes, but as a national asset, which requires to be
properly safeguarded for providing sustained benefits to the entire community.
Diversion of forestland for any non-forest purpose should be subject to most careful
examination by specialists. Construction of dams and reservoirs, mining, industrial
development and expansion of agriculture should be consistent with the needs for
conservation of trees and forests. Projects, which involve such diversion, should
provide in their investment budget, funds for regeneration/compensatory
afforestation in accordance with the provision of Forest Conservation Act 1980 and
related Rules. Haryana has less than 4% of its geographical area under forests. The
state has already diverted about 1800 hectares of forestland for non-forestry
purposes under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The state should follow the
guidelines issued by the Government of India from time to time for compensatory
afforestation, Net Present Value calculation and other charges in lieu of forest area
diverted for non-forestry purposes. A land bank should be created by taking surplus
land from other Departments for afforestation and to meet the requirement of land
under the Forest Conservation Act 1980.

4.5.2 Beneficiaries who are allowed mining and quarrying in forestland and in land
covered by trees should be required to repair and re-vegetate the area in accordance
with established forestry practices.

4.6 Wildlife Conservation

4.6.1 The forested ecosystems need to be developed so that they can support a greater
population of wild animals by further improving the habitat. Plantation of fruit and
fodder species and provision of water especially during the pinch period need to be
undertaken. To reduce the pressure on the protected areas, eco-development works
for raising the fuel-wood and fodder and other income generating activities in areas
outside the Protected Areas should be taken up.

8
4.6.2 With the development in all other sectors, the wetlands in the State are fast
disappearing. Provision of water to the wetlands, their conservation and protection
from pollution should be done and sustained efforts needed for maintaining them in
future.

4.6.3 Trade in wildlife and wildlife products from within the State and passing through
State should be prevented. To prevent poaching of wild animals anti-poaching
mechanism be strengthened. Appropriate intelligence gathering, secret fund and
reward scheme be implemented. Mobility of staff and communication network also
need to be strengthened. A long term plan to wean away the community involved in
wildlife offences be drawn up.

4.6.4 For creating the awareness in the people for conservation, nature education
programmes should be continued with full support and adequate Govt. funding.
Nature Interpretation Centers & Biodiversity Conservation Centers be established in
the State.

4.6.5 To enhance the capability of the department the associated forest staff should be
trained and sensitized for various skills in the wildlife management. Base line survey
of wild animals and other organisms should be undertaken and the status of each and
every species of these animals should be monitored periodically.

4.6.6 Excessive use of pesticides is causing harm to the wildlife outside forest boundaries.
Research on safer pesticides and their use by farmers be promoted by proper funding
and extension work.

4.6.7 Conservation and breading of endangered species of birds and animals for instance
Vultures, Red Jungle Fowl should be undertaken.

4.7 Protection from Forest Fires, Grazing, Encroachments etc.

Forests are an open access resource and are vulnerable to various kinds of pressures
like theft, fire, grazing and encroachment.

4.7.1 Forest fire destroys biodiversity, regeneration and micro flora necessary for
ecological process in forests. Though the incidence of big forest fires in the State is
not very high, yet there have been instances of forest fire during summer months
almost every year when standing trees and fodder are destroyed on a large scale and
natural regeneration gets effected. Special precautions should be taken during the
fire season. These include maintenance of fire lines, use of fire fighting equipment
including hand tools and water handling equipment. Watchtowers should be
constructed in the sensitive areas and communication network like wireless system
should be improved for timely detection of fires. Modern Forest fire management
practice should be adopted to deal with forest fires. As most of the fires are man-
caused, awareness should be created to protect forest from fire damage. People,
particularly the local population, should be involved in all aspects of fire control.

9
4.7.2 Encroachment on forestlands should be arrested and effective action should be taken
to prevent its continuance. There should be no regularization of existing
encroachments.

4.7.3 Grazing in forest areas should be controlled and regulated with the involvement of
the community. There should be no grazing in areas with young plantations and
regeneration. Fodder crops should be raised on common lands of such villages.

4.7.4 Practice of cutting of trees by contractors has already been abandoned in favour of
Departmental logging and Forest Development Corporation. This practice should be
continued and improved with advanced technical inputs.

4.7.5 Communities around degraded forests should be closely associated in protection,

regeneration and development of forests. Integrated area development programmes
should be taken up in villages around forests to meet the needs of communities.

4.7.6 Source of Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP) should be protected and regenerated.
There should be optimum collection of these products alongwith institutional
arrangements for marketing of such produce.

4.8 Wood-based Industries

Haryana has large number of veneer and plywood units and sawmills. There
is one major wood-based paper industry located at Yamunanagar. Most of the raw
material for these industries comes from private land plantations in Haryana and
adjoining states. State has no regulation for timber transit but has the provision of
licensing of wood-based industry.

The main consideration governing the establishment of wood-based

industries and supply of raw material to them should be as follows:-

4.8.1 Wood-based industries based on agro-forestry plantations should be encouraged.

These industries should procure the raw material needed by them to meet their
requirements, by establishing direct linkages with the tree growers and promoting
contractual agro-forestry programmes. No permission should be required for felling
and utilization of species grown under agro-forestry.

4.8.2 Farmers, particularly small and marginal should be encouraged to grow wood for
better economic returns. There should be no restriction and regulation on the felling
and removal of trees species like Eucalyptus and Poplars and other species grown
under agro-forestry on private holdings to encourage agro-forestry and ensure
regular supply of raw material to wood-based industries.

4.8.3 Wood based industries should be encouraged to supply certified quality planting
stock to farmers and to enter into buy back arrangements for the raw material

10
 produced by them. However, the farmers should be free to sell their produce in the
market if they get the higher prices. Wood-based industries must not only provide
employment to local people on priority but also involve them in raising trees.

4.8.4 There should be separate regulated timber trading markets for ensuring transparency
in transaction and avoiding exploitation of tree growers. Market intelligence and
information system shall be strengthened for the benefit of tree growers and wood
consumers.

4.8.5 There should be no restriction in the State on movement of wood from the
neighbouring states. Also the import of wood and wood products should be
liberalized.

4.8.6 Formation of Tree growers cooperatives should be encouraged to get better deal for
their produce.

4.8.7 Wood from forests should not be made available to Industry at concessional rates.
Natural forests serve as a gene pool resource and help to maintain ecological
balance. Such forests, therefore, will not be made available to industries for
undertaking plantations or for any other activity.

4.9 Forest Extension

4.9.1 Forest conservation programmes cannot succeed without willing support and
cooperation of the people. It is, therefore, essential to make people conscious of the
value of trees, biodiversity and nature. Farmers and interested people should be
trained in Van Chetna and Krishi Gyan Kendras to ensure optimum use of their land
and water resources. Short-term extension courses and lectures should be organised
to educate farmers. For this purpose, it is essential that suitable programmes be
propagated through mass media, audio-visual aids and the extension machinery by
strengthening existing resources with government organizations.

4.9.2 For education on nursery techniques, agro-forestry and marketing, Van Chetna
Kendras in some of the key places have been established by the Forest Department.
These should be extended to more villages. Village Forest Committees should be
given training and be exposed to success stories in the country. Village Forest
Committees should be constituted in all villages with the help of panchayats.

4.9.3 Spots should be identified in natural forests to develop eco-tourism, for the exposure
of nature and its bounties to the people especially school children, without disturbing
ecology of the area.

4.10 Forestry Education and Training

4.10.1 Forestry should be recognized both as a scientific discipline as well as a profession.

Agriculture universities and institutions dedicated to the development of forestry

11
 education should formulate curricula and courses for imparting academic education
and promoting post-graduate research and professional excellence keeping in view
the manpower needs of the State and the country.

4.10.2 Taking into account latest developments in forestry and related disciplines,
specialized orientation-training courses for developing better management skills for
in-service officials need to be encouraged. Government of India is conducting one-
week training courses in various disciplines for IFS officers every year. These
courses are very useful for the development of forestry and human resource. On
similar lines, State Forest Service officers and all other officials of the department
should be given training in latest developments in forestry and related disciplines.

4.10.3 The training institutions should be strengthened by equipping with trained personnel
and good training material. Village Forest Committees and Non Governmental
Organizations should also be trained regularly at these centers.

4.11 Forestry Research

4.11.1 With increasing recognition of the importance of forests for environmental health,
biodiversity and employment, emphasis must be laid on scientific forestry research,
necessitating adequate strengthening of the research base as well as new priorities for
action.

4.11.2 An Agro-forestry Research Centre should be established to undertake inclusive and

extensive research on agro-forestry and farm forestry.

4.11.3 Some broad priority areas of research and development needing special attention are:
-

i) Increasing the productivity of wood and other forest produce per unit area by
the application of modern scientific methods;

ii) Re-vegetation of barren/marginal/waste/mined lands and watersheds.

iii) Effective conservation and management of existing forest resources (mainly

natural forest eco-systems).

iv) Research related to social forestry for rural development.

v) Research for suitable agro-forestry species and agro-forestry models for all
zones of the State.

vi) Research in biotechnology and seed development to produce seedlings for

maximum production.

12
 vii) Research for water conservation to provide water to villages in fringes of forest
areas.

viii) Development of substitutes to replace wood and wood products.

ix) Research related to development of wildlife and management of national parks

and sanctuaries.

4.12 Personnel Management

4.12.1 Government policies in personnel management for professional foresters should aim
at enhancing their professional competence and status and attracting and retaining
qualified and motivated personnel, keeping in view particularly the arduous nature of
duties they have to perform.

4.12.2 Cadre strength of Indian Forest Service and State Forest Service should be
maintained at optimum level. There should be lateral opportunities for these officers
to circumvent stagnation in the cadre.

4.13 Forest Survey and database

4.13.1 Forest survey has been an old tradition and it is confined to verification of
boundaries, regeneration status and enumeration of growing stock, which is required
during the preparation of working plans. But database in forestry sector need to be
improved. Priority should be given in completing the survey of forest resources in
the State on scientific lines and develop a comprehensive database.

4.13.2 A strong Management Information System (MIS) should be developed in the Forest
Department. All the information necessary for forest management should be
scientifically collected and regularly updated upto Range level by MIS cell set up at
the headquarters. Geographic Information System (GIS) should be set up at the
headquarters for forest mapping for effective management of Forest areas.

4.14 Legal Support and Infrastructure Development

4.14.1 Appropriate legislation and adequate infrastructure support would be necessary for
the effective implementation of this policy. State is implementing the Indian Forest
Act, 1927; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Amended in 1991); Forest (Conservation)
Act, 1980; and Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900. Wildlife Protection Act has
been amended in 2002.

4.14.2 The State has already notified Joint Forest management (JFM) resolution. Necessary
rules have been made by the State to implement this legislation. State should further
make appropriate rules to implement State Forest Policy effectively.

13
4.15 Financial Support

4.15.1 The objectives of this policy cannot be achieved without adequate financial
resources. Such an investment is indeed fully justified considering the contribution
of forests in maintaining essential ecological processes and life-support systems and
in preserving genetic diversity. Forests should not be looked upon as a source of
revenue but as national asset to be protected and enhanced for the well being of the
people and the Nation.

4.15.2 The State should provide adequate Plan Budget allocations for forestry sector to
achieve the objectives of this policy.

4.15.3 The state Forest Department should prepare small area oriented projects and ask for
financial assistance from the Central Government and external donors.

*******

14