Uttarakhand Forest Policy, 2001 :

The State of Uttarakhand has a predominance of forests and the topographical diversity of plains and mountainous regions makes it a repository of diverse flora and fauna. It is also the place of origin of significant rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna and Sharda. The forests of the state have a significant effect on the environmental stability and ecological balance of the entire country. Therefore keeping in mind the variety, diversity, environmental impact and the selfemployment opportunities that these forests generate, it has become imperative to formulate a state level policy for the rehabilitation, expansion and use of trees, forests, wildlife and the vast multitudes of vegetation including medicinal plants found in the forests of Uttarakhand.

Objectives :

•  The foremost objective of State forest policy is to provide environmental stability and ecological balance. In comparison to the fulfillment of this main objective the derivation of economic benefit from forests is only a secondary objective.
• To prepare the strategy and work plan in regard to conserve and promote the existent biodiversity, and wild life and its implementation.
• Mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants and restoring the fragile ecosystem of Uttarakhand by checking the reckless exploitation of medicinal plants, unsustainable harvesting practices, lack of focus on cultivation, absence of robust market mechanism, illegal trade, loss of traditional knowledge, inadequate coordination at the administrative level and overlapping jurisdiction of various departments. 
• Development of natural and planted forests in the State as well as all other different kinds of plants through conservation, promotion, prudent and scientific management.
• Afforestation in denuded and vacant forest land, rivers, lakes, ponds and catchment areas. Efforts will be made to formulate and implement various water and land conservation schemes to necessitate prevention of floods and droughts and also bring about decrease in silting of riverbeds.
• Efforts will be made to increase the existing forest area and productivity of trees.
• Efforts will be made to bridge the gap between demand and supply of fuel wood, fodder, minor forest produce including medicinal plants, and timber for the weaker sections and local domestic demands.
• Acknowledging the commercial potential of medicinal plants in national and international markets, and also for meeting the livelihood needs of the local communities of Uttarakhand.

Fundamental Principles :

 1. Local traditional knowledge on bio-diversity including medicinal plants should be collated, scientifically analyzed and duly published 2. Rare species of vegetation/ medicinal plants and animals should be identified for the purpose of insitu conservation. 3. Rare and endangered species of animals should be regularly counted. 4. Rare species of plants including medicinal plants should be allowed to be naturally regenerated and timely surveys should be undertaken to access the situation. 5. The adverse factors affecting the ecosystem should be identified and regulated. 6. Efforts should be made to disseminate knowledge about various aspects of bio-diversity including medicinal plants and its benefits to the local population, and analyze the national and international laws toward the benefit of the locals.

Strategy:

1.  Forest area - : According to National Forest Policy 1988, the hilly areas should have a forest cover of 2/3rd of the geographical area. Uttarakhand is documented to have 64.8% area as forest land but on the ground only 43.5% forest cover exists. Therefore, it is imperative to expand the forest and tree covers which will facilitate in containing soil erosion and provide stability to sensitive Himalayan eco-system. The difference of 21.3% in the documented forest cover and the real forest cover which is equivalent to approximately 11,000 sq km. If we assume that half of this area is snow clad, sandy and stony, even then there is 5,500 sq km of area where natural regeneration/afforestation could be deployed to enhance the green cover. A detailed work plan and availability of financial resources would be required to implement the same through Governmental efforts and public co-operation.

2. Tree plantation, social forestry and agricultural forestry-:  In the backdrop of vacant and undulated forest land and depending upon the eco-system, fuel wood and animal fodder availability could be made through concentrated planting and agriculture. Effort should be made to enhance the cultivation of medicinal plants and non-timber forest produce in mountainous regions and cultivation of aromatic and industrial varieties on private lands in plains of Uttarakhand.

3. Conservation of natural forests - : Apart from plantation, it is also imperative that the existing natural forests, planted forests as well as different kinds of vegetation, especially medicinal plants should be provided security. Effort should be made to identify those who damage forests and strong legal action will be initiated against them. And in order to necessitate this, relevant changes in the existing rules will be made. No encroachment of forest land would be tolerated. At the same time, the demarcation of forest lands should be completed in a time bound manner. Special efforts should be made to contain the damages of forests through fire or excessive grazing. The cases of non-forest use of forest land should be decided expeditiously as per the rules.

4. Soil and water conservation and collection – : Specialefforts should be made to conserve the soil and water in the forests of the mountainous regions with special importance to the conservation of water in water catchment areas would be made so that drying up water sources could be recharged. Excessive unregulated grazing over time has resulted in increased soil erosion. Hence, a policy for grazing in forest areas should be formulated.

5. Non-timber forest produce – : Non-timber forest produce (NTFP) has a special significance in the State of Uttarakhand. Its use by the local population is essentially for the purposes of food consumption, medicines etc. Innovative methods can be adopted to link NTFP to employment generation and poverty alleviation. Such produce include gum, medicinal plants, grass, bamboo, fruits, flowers etc. Efforts will be made to identify all such NTFP and necessary arrangement for security, regeneration, optimum collection and marketing will be done

6.Conservation of bio-diversity – : Special efforts will be made to achieve the objective of conservation and development of national parks wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves that will include adopting progressive management strategies, ecological development research, public awareness campaign, training, environmental education etc. Bio-diversity conservation will also be given due importance in areas other than afore-mentioned protected areas.

7. Forest research and technology training -: Forest research will be strengthened in the State and a State forest research institution would be established. In order to improve the productivity of forest area, high quality seeds, plantation material, collection and development would be taken up in the research where high quality cloning should also be developed. For this purpose, biotechnology education would be encouraged. In the State, in order to facilitate plantation on not so fertile and undulated lands, relevant plant species should be selected in which medicinal plants, fodder etc. would be planted and the possibility of its cultivation should then be assessed. Apart from this, work should be done on assessing the possibility of utilization of other forest produce such as pine cone and lantana which will be of importance for the protection of forests from fire and improvement of grasslands. The Forest Department would be provided with necessary resources and forest officials duly encouraged.

8. Mining in forest areas -: Mining activities would not be encouraged as a general rule in forest areas. Only such mining would be allowed which is significant for sustainable development and includes collection of stones, gravel and sand including collection from rivers flowing in forest areas. Necessary compensatory and flood control measures should also be undertaken in a scientific manner to maintain the environmental stability, wherever such exploitation would be done. Sand mining from rivers and canals in forest area and collection of stones and gravel will be undertaken through the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation.

9. Employment generation programs - : Unemployment is a burning issue in Uttarakhand and various line departments, with the forest department playing an affirmative role, can work towards finding a recourse. Forestry work is labor oriented. Forest produce provides employment opportunities to the village population. Tree plantation is also an employment generating work. These programs should be 12 linked with other programs of the State in such a manner that forestry program should be given priority. Such programs should be conducted by the Forest Department and Forest Development Corporation.

10. Formation of Van Panchayats - : Van Panchayat system has been prevalent in Uttarakhand for several years and the Panchayati Van areas are being efficiently managed by the established Van Panchayats in numerous villages. Efforts will be made to establish Van Panchayats in other villages based on the availability of Civil Soyam forest land. These Van Panchayats will work towards fodder produce, afforestation, in situ and ex situ conservation of medicinal plants, water and soil conservation works and the powers, duties, rights and responsibilities of the community or the farmers, forest department and other line departments wherever applicable needs to be clearly defined.