Bamboo ceases to be a tree, freed of Forest Act (TH)

Bamboo ceases to be a tree, freed of Forest Act (TH)

 Context

Bamboo is no longer a tree, legally

What has happened?

After 90 years, the bamboo has legally ceased to be a tree with the government, amending the Indian Forest Act and axing the bamboo — taxonomically a grass — from a list of plants that also included palms, skumps, brush-wood and canes

Objective

According to the estimates chalked out by Niti Aayog the domestic production of bamboo is only sufficient for half of the demand in the country. Therefore there is an immediate requirement to increase production of quality bamboo to meet the enhancing demand of bamboo in other section of the society apart from elevating bamboo related traditional industry as well as bamboo enterprises. Hence, this recent amendment by promoting the cultivation of bamboo in non-forest areas aims to achieve the “twin objectives” of

• Increasing the income of farmers, and
• Increasing the green cover of the country

Unchanged

Bamboo grown in the forest areas would continue to be governed by the provisions of the Indian Forest Act

Earlier situation

• For several years now, the classification of the bamboo as a tree meant that it couldn’t be easily transported across State borders
• It also required permits from village councils and couldn’t be cultivated in non-forest areas

Impact

This will now create a viable option for cultivation in 12.6 million hectares of cultivable waste land

• Promote cultivation: It will encourage farmers and other individuals to take up plantation/block plantation of suitable bamboo species on degraded land, in addition to plantation on agricultural land and other private lands under the agro-forestry mission
• Removal of ambiguity: Amendment will remove the ambiguity on the status of bamboo and will bring it in harmony with the related Forest Rights Act. Tribals have a right to forest produce but its earlier classification posed problems, which will now be eliminated

Market share

Though the country has 19% share of the world’s area under bamboo cultivation, its market share in the sector is only 6%. At present, it imports timber and allied products, such as pulp, paper, and furniture. In 2015, it imported about 18.01 million cubic metres of timber and allied products worth ₹43,000 crore

Bamboo in India

13% forest area is comprised of bamboo. More than 137 species of bamboo is grown in the country which are used for 1500 diversified utilities

• National Bamboo Mission (NBM): Keeping in view the possibility of, economic utilization of bamboo, government of India initiated National Bamboo Mission (NBM) – A centrally sponsored scheme under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2006 for overall development of bamboo sector
• The Scheme will be implemented by the Division of Horticulture under the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in the Ministry of Agriculture

• NBM was renamed as National Agro-Forestry & Bamboo Mission (NABM) in 2017

• National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA): Department of Science and Technology (DST) has implemented the National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA), during the Tenth Plan, to provide impetus to the bamboo sector and facilitate realisation of its considerable potential
• It was implemented as a Technology Mission under the Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council, an autonomous institution of DST
• After successful interventions in the Tenth Plan, the Mission was approved for continuation during the entire Eleventh Plan period and subsequently also for 2012-13 and 2013-14. NMBA ceased to exist as a Mission in 2013-14.

Aims and objectives of NMBA:

• develop value-added bamboo based products, practices, technology and processes
• promote innovative design capability and fabrication techniques
• improve industry-lab-user linkages
• develop small and medium enterprises
• empower people and communities
• skill development