FOREST(CONSERVATION)ACT-1980

BYALAPATI JYOTHSNA(1210715204)IT(C2)

WHAT IS FOREST ?

•A forest is a community of trees , shrubs, herbs and organisms that cover a considerable area that use oxygen , water and soil nutrients.• Forests are the dominant terrestrial ecosystem of

Earth, and are distributed across the globe.• India’s forests cover about 23% of total geographical

area of the country.

=[

TYPES OF FORESTSTHERE ARE 6 TYPES OF FORESTS1.TROPICAL RAINFOREST2.TROPICAL DECIDOUS(MONSOON FORESTS)3.TROPICAL SCRUB4.TEMPERATE RAINFOREST5.TEMPERATE DECIDOUS6.EVERGREEN CONIFEROUS(BOREAL FORESTS)

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST LOCATION-NEAR THE EQUATOR(between 23.5 degrees N latitude

and 23.5 degrees S latitude) CLIMATE- between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit all year long PLANTS-evergreen broadleaf trees ANIMALS-variety of birds, bats, monkeys, snakes and other animals

can be found in tropical rainforests.

TROPICAL DECIDOUS FORESTS LOCATION-LITTLE AWAY FROM EQUATOR CLIMATE- change depending on the time of the year PLANTS-OAK,PINE,HERBS,WILD FLOWERS,LICHENS ANIMALS-LEOPARDS,WOLVES,OWLS,SQUIRRELS,RED PANDA

TROPICAL SCRUB LOCATION- California, Oregon, South-Africa, Australia, parts of

Europe CLIMATE-winters are very mild and moist ,very dry in summer. PLANTS-hard leaves(coyote brush , fairy duster, king protea). ANIMALS-black tail jack rabbit , puma , cactus wren

TEMPERATE RAIN FOREST LOCATION-pacific coast of North America , Oregon to Alaska , south

east coast of Chile. CLIMATE- wet because of distance from Equator. PLANTS- Pines, Firs, Redwoods, Mosses , Ferns. ANIMALS-Mountain lions , Roosevelt elks , Varied thrush , Pacific

tree Frog , Black Bears.

TEMPERATE DECIDOUS LOCATION-Eastern United States and Canada, Western Europe and

parts of Russia, China and Japan CLIMATE- rain in the spring, summer and fall and snow in the winter PLANTS-Oak , Hickory , Poplar , Maple , Birch ANIMALS-red fox, hawks, woodpecker and cardinals.

EVERGREEN CONIFEROUS FORESTS LOCATION-south of Arctic Tundra CLIMATE-long winters , short summers. PLANTS-Spruce , Fir , Pine , Cedar. ANIMALS- Deer, moose, elk , Wolves

What is forest conservation ?Forest conservation is the practice of planning and maintaining

forested areas for the benefit and sustainability of future generations It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 25th day of

October, 1980.It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and

Kashmir.

FEATURES(i) State government has empowered to use the forests only for forestry purposes. -approval of central government has to be taken for the following a)non-forestry purposes(e.g:-mining ) b)reforestation

Mining

Definition -Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth The environmental impact of mining includes erosion, formation of

sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil , groundwater , surface water by chemicals .

REFORESTATION• Reforestation refers to establishment of forest on land that had

recent tree cover• BENEFITS:- climate benefits- potential to preserve endangered species- reverse the damage done by erosion

(ii) It makes provision for conservation of all types of forests and for this purpose there is an advisory committee which recommends funding for it to the central government(iii) Any illegal non-forest activity within a forest area can be immediately stopped under this act

FEATURES CONTINUED..

“Non-forest activity” means the breaking up or clearing of any forest land or portion-Raw materials for industries-Shifting cultivation-Fuel requirements-Development projects-Growing food needs-Overgrazing-Forest fires

Non-forest activities

1992 AMENDMENTS IN THE ACT

(1).In 1992, some amendments were made for allowing some non forest activities in forests , without cutting trees or limited cutting, large scale destruction of forests with prior approval of central government

-These activities are setting up transmission lines, seismic surveys, exploration , drilling and hydroelectricity projects.

(2).Wildlife sanctuaries , national parks are totally prohibited for any exploration or survey under this act without approval of central govt.

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES• A wildlife sanctuary is a space that is set aside exclusively for the use

of wild animals, which are protected when they roam or live in that area.• Typically, a sanctuary is created through a government, government

employees may patrol the area to ensure that no one hunts or otherwise harasses the animals.

NATIONAL PARKS• An area of countryside, or occasionally sea or fresh water, protected

by the state for the enjoyment of the general public or the preservation of wildlife.

(3).Cultivation of tea, coffee, spices, rubber, and plants which are cash-crops, are included under non-forestry activity and not allowed in reserve forests.

• (4).Even cultivation of fruit-bearing trees, oil-yielding plants or plants of medicinal value in forest need to be first approved by central government. This is because newly introduced species in the forest area may cause

an imbalance in the ecology of the forest.  • (5).Removal of stones, bajri etc.. From river beds located within the forest area fall under non-forest

activity. 

KEY WORDS• FRUIT-BEARING TREES : Trees that bear edible fruits e.g : apple , guava , papaya , plum , apricot• OIL-YIELDING PLANTS : Plants which are used as sources of oil. e.g : coconut oil , palm oil , olive oil , corn oil• MEDICINAL PLANTS : Plants have the ability to synthesize a wide

variety of chemical compounds that are used to perform important biological functions, and to defend against attack from predators

e.g : Amla , Tulsi , Neem , sandal wood

RAFFLESIA

(5)Non-forest activities include clearing of forest land for cultivation of any type of plants/crops or any other purpose. However, some construction work in the forest for wild-life or forest management is exempted from non-forest activity(eg: fencing, pipelines, check posts, wireless communication , making water-holes etc) 

(6).Plantation of mulberry for rearing silk worm is considered as an non-forestry activity

(7).Mining is a non-forestry activity and prior approval of central government is mandatory.

(8).Removal of stones, bajri , boulder etc from river-beds located within forest area fall under non-forest activity.

(9).Any proposal sent to Central government for non-forest activity must have

-Cost-benefit analysis -Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of the proposed activity with reference to its ecological and socio-

economic impacts.

Thus the forests(conservation) Act has made necessary provisions for

conservation and protection of forests and prevent deforestation.

LEND A HAND TO SAVE FORESTS……..

Any queries???•