As per the Indian State of Forest Report 2023, Uttar Pradesh recorded the second-highest increase in green cover in India, with an addition of 559.19 sq km between 2021 and 2023, next only to Chhattisgarh, taking the total green cover to 9.96% of the state’s geographical area.
The Forest Policy of Uttar Pradesh, 2017 marked a paradigm shift in forest governance by integrating ecological sustainability with socio-economic development. It was formulated in response to the state’s historically low forest cover, increasing environmental stress, and the need for community participation in forest management. The policy seeks to modernize forest governance while aligning with national forest and climate objectives.
Background
Uttar Pradesh, one of India’s most populous states, has traditionally had a forest and tree cover much below the national average, threatening ecological balance, biodiversity, and environmental health. The policy was devised to address forest degradation, climate change impacts, declining water security, and human-wildlife conflicts, particularly in regions like Terai and Bundelkhand.
Objectives of the Policy
Enhance Forest & Tree Cover: Target to raise forest and tree cover to 15% of total geographical area by 2030 through planned afforestation and eco-restoration.
Biodiversity Conservation: Protect native flora and fauna, safeguard critical habitats, and support ecosystem functions.
Climate Mitigation & Water Security: Augment carbon sequestration, protect watersheds, and improve micro-climatic conditions.
Community Participation & Livelihood Support: Empower local communities through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and equitable benefit sharing from forest produce.
Sustainable Livelihoods and Eco-Development: Regulated access to non-timber forest produce (NTFP), promotion of eco-tourism, and creation of green employment.
| Read more about ISFR report 2023 |
Key Policy Components
- Afforestation and Forest Expansion
- Plantation Programmes: Plantation of 175 crore saplings by 2027. Systematic afforestation on degraded forest lands, village wastelands, and urban fringes.
Compensatory Afforestation: Mandatory compensatory afforestation for forest land diverted for development projects.
- Social Forestry: Promotion of tree planting on community lands, along roads, canals, railway lines, and in urban areas through agroforestry and urban forestry initiatives
Species Selection: Emphasis on native and multi-purpose tree species suited to local ecology.
- Terai Region Focus: Special emphasis on protecting and expanding Sal and mixed deciduous forests in the Terai belt along the Himalayan foothills
- Bundelkhand Restoration: Targeted programmes for the drought-prone Bundelkhand region focusing on water conservation and drought-resistant species
- Biodiversity and Wildlife Protection
Protected Areas: Strengthening conservation in protected areas, wildlife corridors, and critical habitats.
- Wildlife Corridors: Major wildlife corridors include the Dudhwa–Pilibhit–Katarniaghat landscape, crucial for tigers, elephants, and swamp deer
Endangered Species Protection: Protection of endangered species and ecological hotspots such as Terai forests and Bundelkhand watersheds.
- Sacred Groves: Protection and conservation of traditional sacred groves that hold cultural and ecological significance.
- Wetland Conservation: Protection of wetlands and water bodies within forest areas that serve as critical habitats for aquatic biodiversity.
- Participatory Forest Management
Joint Forest Management Committees: Expansion of JFMCs and Eco-Development Committees with real roles in protection and regeneration.
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Rights: Sustainable rights for collection of NTFP like mahua, tendu, medicinal plants and honey.
Women’s Participation: Special emphasis on women’s involvement and equitable benefit sharing.
- Forest Rights Implementation: Implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
- Forest Protection and Fire Management
Fire Prevention: Community-supported fire prevention strategies, early warning systems, and rapid response teams.
- Rapid Response: Development of rapid response mechanisms with trained fire-fighting teams and necessary equipment.
Encroachment Prevention: Legal and administrative measures to curb encroachments, grazing pressure, and illicit timber cutting.
- Grazing Management: Regulated grazing practices to prevent forest degradation while meeting the needs of pastoral communities
- Eco-Tourism and Green Economy
Eco-tourism Promotion: Promotion of low-impact eco-tourism to generate revenue for forest conservation and community income.
Urban Forestry: Integration of urban forestry and green belts around cities to enhance environmental quality.
| Read more about Growth of Forest cover in UP |
Institutional Framework and Implementation
- Administrative Structure
- Forest Department Strengthening: Upgradation and modernisation of the State Forest Department through capacity enhancement, adequate manpower deployment, improved infrastructure, and better logistical support.
- District-Level Implementation: District Forest Officers (DFOs) function as the primary implementing authorities at the district level, supported by Range Officers and Beat staff for field-level planning, execution, and supervision.
- Inter-Departmental Coordination: Institutional coordination mechanisms with departments such as Agriculture, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, to ensure an integrated and holistic approach to forest management.
- Technical Support: Creation and strengthening of specialised units focusing on wildlife conservation, social forestry, forestry research, to provide scientific and technical backing.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Remote Sensing: Extensive use of GIS tools, satellite imagery, drones, and FSI-based digital monitoring platforms for real-time tracking and assessment of forest cover and plantation activities.
- Ground Verification: Regular field inspections, forest inventories, and sample surveys to evaluate forest healthand survival rates of plantations.
- Performance Indicators: Formulation of quantifiable indicators to measure progress in forest and tree cover expansion.
- Reporting Mechanisms: Establishment of a systematic reporting framework from field units to district and state levels to ensure transparency, accountability, and timely review of policy implementation.
Special Programmes and Initiatives
- Agroforestry Promotion
- Integration with Agriculture: Encouragement of agroforestry models where trees are grown alongside agricultural crops to diversify income sources and enhance farm sustainability.
- Extension Services: Provision of technical support, advisory services, and access to quality planting material for farmers adopting agroforestry practices.
- Market Linkages: Development of organized market channels and value chains for agroforestry produce to ensure fair and remunerative prices for farmers.
- Urban and Peri-Urban Forestry
- Green Belt Development: Creation of green buffers around cities and along major transport corridors to control pollution, improve micro-climate, and enhance urban aesthetics.
- Urban Parks: Establishment and upkeep of urban forests, biodiversity parks, and green recreational spaces to improve environmental quality and public well-being.
- Avenue Plantation: Planned tree plantation along roads, streets, canals, and public spaces in urban and peri-urban areas.
- Community Gardens: Urban forestry initiatives include revival of existing urban forests such as Kukrail, development of city forests.
- Eco-Tourism Development
- Sustainable Tourism: Promotion of eco-friendly tourism activities in forest regions to generate revenue while minimizing ecological disturbance.
- Infrastructure Development: Permitting only low-impact infrastructure such as nature trails, interpretation centres, and basic eco-huts in designated eco-tourism zones.
- Community Benefits: Ensuring sharing of eco-tourism revenues with local communities in accordance with state eco-tourism policy guidelines.
- Awareness Generation: Leveraging eco-tourism as a tool for environmental education and awareness among visitors and local stakeholders.
Significance for Uttar Pradesh
- Environmental Benefits
- Climate Regulation: Expansion of forest cover helps in moderating temperatures, influencing rainfall patterns, and enhancing overall climatic stability.
- Air Quality Improvement: Forests function as natural carbon sinks and air purifiers.
- Water Conservation: Protection of forest ecosystems supports groundwater recharge, soil moisture conservation, and safeguarding of surface water sources.
- Soil Protection: Forests play a crucial role in preventing soil erosion and land degradation, particularly in ecologically fragile regions such as Bundelkhand and the Vindhyan belt.
- Economic and Social Benefits
- Livelihood Support: Forests sustain millions of rural households through regulated access to minor forest produce and allied activities.
- Agricultural Productivity: By influencing local micro-climates, forests contribute positively to crop yields in adjoining agricultural areas.
- Employment Generation: Afforestation drives, eco-tourism initiatives, and forest-based enterprises create significant rural and green employment opportunities.
- Cultural Value: Forests hold deep cultural, traditional, and religious significance for various communities across Uttar Pradesh.
Challenges in Implementation
Land Availability: Land scarcity due to competing agriculture and infrastructure needs.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Human– wildlife conflict is most severe in the Terai districts of Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, and Shravasti
Resource Constraints: Financial and human resource constraints limiting comprehensive execution.
- Encroachment Issues: Long-standing and unauthorized occupation of forest lands has resulted in complex legal, administrative, and social challenges, making restoration and protection efforts difficult.
- Development Pressures: Rising demand for infrastructure expansion, mining, industrial projects, and urban growth has increased pressure for diversion of forest land, often conflicting with conservation goals.
- Climate Variability: Altered rainfall patterns, frequent droughts, and extreme weather events adversely affect forest regeneration and the survival rate of plantations.
- Community Conflicts: At times, conservation priorities clash with immediate livelihood requirements of forest-dependent communities, leading to social friction and resistance.
Way Forward
- Technology Integration: Greater use of drones, satellite imagery, GIS tools, and mobile applications to enable efficient, transparent, and real-time forest management.
- Public–Private Partnerships: Increased participation of the private sector, NGOs, and civil society in afforestation and forest conservation initiatives.
- Research and Development: Strengthening research on native species, forest ecology, biodiversity, and climate-resilient forestry to support evidence-based decisions.
- Awareness Campaigns: Intensive environmental awareness programmes, especially for youth, students, and local communities.
- Green Jobs: Creation of green employment opportunities in afforestation, eco-tourism, and forest-based activities.
- Integrated Approach: Linking forest conservation with watershed management, wildlife protection, and rural development schemes.
- Policy Reviews: Periodic review and revision of policy provisions based on implementation experience and emerging challenges.
Conclusion
The Forest Policy of Uttar Pradesh, 2017 offers a comprehensive and inclusive framework for forest restoration and management. It balances ecological integrity with socio-economic priorities by embedding community participation, sustainable livelihood strategies, and modern monitoring techniques. Its success hinges on effective implementation, political commitment, technology adoption, and stakeholder collaboration, making it a key policy for sustainable environmental governance in UP.
