New policy encourages private players in forestry sector

Private companies may be encouraged to grow artificial forests for timber business in future, if the NDA government follows the recommendation of the new draft national forest policy.

In the absence of adequate private sector participation in the forestry, the industry largely relies on import and substituting wood with high carbon footprint material.
“There is a need to stimulate growth in the forest-based industry sector. This sector being labour intensive can create green jobs while mitigating climate change. These forest-based industries face constraints in ensuring an assured supply of raw material along with licensing issues and as a consequence, imports are on the rise,” stated the draft policy that has been released in the public for wider consultation.

“The forest corporations and industrial units need to step up forestry plantations for meeting the demand of raw material without directly competing with farmers,” it added.

Millions of dollars are spent on timber import. While the policy may come under fire from green activists for widespread commercialisation of forests, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said involving the private sector was the only way to increase the forest and tree cover.