National Forest Policy, 1988.

The Government of India with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture enunciated a Forest Policy to be followed in the management of State Forests in India. The basic objectives of the Policy are to maintain environmental stability through preservation and restoration of the ecological balance, conserving the natural heritage of India by preserving the remaining natural forests with the vast variety of flora and fauna, checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, checking the extension of sand-dunes in the desert areas of Rajasthan and along the coastal tracts, increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in India through massive afforestation and social forestry programmes, meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce and small timber of the rural and tribal populations, increasing the productivity of forests to meet essential national needs, encouraging efficient utilisation of forest produce and maximising substitution of wood and creating a massive people's movement with the involvement of women, for achieving these objectives and to minimise pressure on existing forests.