Social Forestry

The concept of social forestry was introduced by the National Commission on Agriculture in 1976. It refers to the rational afforestation, which is compatible with economic and social needs of a community. In the recent past, forestry  development programme was emphasised on the farm lands. It implies to the practice of forestry in all aspects of village lands. Basically farm lands, community lands, etc. Farm forestry is defined as the practice of forestry in all its aspects on farms or village lands generally integrated with farm operation. In other words, forestry has linkages with several operations.

The aim of social forestry is to disperse forests along the length and breadth of the country to meet the basic requirements of the villagers. Thus, social forests would cover waste lands, Panchayat lands, villages commons and land on the sides of the roads, canal banks and railway lines, which may be brought under forest plantations, shelter-belts and mixed forestry, comprising raising of grass and leaf fodder, fruit trees and fuel wood trees.

Objectives

The National Commission on Agriculture (NCA) has adopted the following objectives of social forestry, which are the basic and economic needs of the community and which aim at improving the conditions of the rural people.

1.Fuelwood supply to rural areas and replacement of cowdung, which may be used as manure.

2.Supply of small timber for rural housing and agricultural implements.

3.Supply of fodder

4.Protection of agricultural land against wind

Weaknesses of Social Forestry

1.   Social  forestry programme has completely ignored the prime objective of ensuring the rural households access to fuel wood and fodder for domestic consumption. In these areas, women and children spend their maximum time to collect the fuelwood. Thus, the World Bank, which has financed the social forestry in many developing countries, is now worried about the extent to which social forestry would benefit the landless to meet their requirements of fuelwood and fodder.

2.Social forestry programme has failed to involve the landless in afforestation. The programme was launched with the objective of removing poverty and unemployment in the country. But, in reality it has aggravated poverty and unemployment in the rural areas.

3.Social Forestry programmes did not involve women who collect fuel for the family everyday. It has also not involved the tribals who are deeply interested in the protection and promotion of forests.

4.Social forestry programme does little for ecological restoration. In fact, there is a general feeling in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana that the quick growing eucalyptus plantations are depleting soil nutrients.

5.The shade of trees on crops reduces the crop yield significantly.