Answer the following questions in not more than 125 words.

What steps have been taken up to conserve forests?

Several steps have been taken to conserve forests:

• India adopted a nation-wide forest conservation policy in 1952, and modified the same in 1988. The policy stipulates sustainable forest management. It envisions to increase forest cover, while ensuring that local communities can meet their needs from the forests.

• The aim of the policy was broad-based: from increasing the forest cover to 33% of the geographical area to initiating social movements to encourage planting of trees. The policy makers understood that increasing forest cover has several positive benefits like controlling soil erosion and preventing floods.

• Social Forestry plans were initiated. This meant that barren lands were afforested by the communities to support rural development. Consequently, people were educated about the advantages of agro-forestry.

• Farm Forestry was encouraged. Farmers could plant trees in their farm-lands for commercial and non-commercial purposes, and the forest department distributed free seeds to small and middle farmers for this purpose.