Deforestation, Forest Policy and Government Inaction

This book is an attempt by the author to understand, evaluate and present a systematic discourse on nature of deforestation and evaluatory process of forest policy in reference to India. This micro-level study outlines the complexity involved in forest policy implementation in Rajpipla East (forest) division of Narmada district in Gujarat. While examination, the study emphasizes on the forest that contributes directly or indirectly for the deforestation. An example like ways in which forest  lands are converted in to agricultural use or another non forestry uses, also deforestation, is the result of overlapping economic, political and social systems. Gujarat has about 9.6% of total geographical area under forest, which is much below that nation average 24%. The threat of deforestation has provoked the forest department in initiating various schemes to regenerate and reclaim the deforested forest land. This has been achieved through joined initiatives of forest department, NGOs and villagers or local people. The schemes like Joint Forest Management (JFM), social forestry etc. has gained quite acceptance among the village communities to rise, manage and protect the forest as well as to gain from its produces.