Rajasthan’snew forest policy, which was released on Monday, aims to increase vegetation cover to 20% of the geographical area within the next 20 years, with focus on increasing vegetation cover outside forests.
At present, 9.6% of the state’s geographical area comes under forest area, but as per the Indian State of Forest Report 2021, the forest cover in terms of vegetation cover is only 4.87% of the state’s geographical area.
TheRajasthan Forest Policy2023 spells its vision as, “To promote the sustainable management of forests, wildlife, and Protected Areas through scientific, traditional and experiential knowledge towards the overall achievement of ecological, economical and social well-being and increase vegetation cover to 20% of the geographical area within next 20 years with special focus on increasing vegetation outside forests.”
To achieve this vision, the policy proposes measures like protection and consolidation, ecological restoration, sustainability, expansion, evidence-based approach, and participation of stakeholders.
The policy states that the authorities will focus on promoting natural regeneration and artificial regeneration on forest lands; take up protection, conservation, and plantation on community lands like gochar, oran, charagah, etc.
The policy also mentions that increasing tree cover outside forests will be done through distribution of tall Plants to individuals/ farmers.