Resource detail

The first National Forest Policy (NFP) was pronounced in 1894. The NFP was revised in 1952 and in 1988. The new NFP of 1988 marks a major shift from 1952 forest policy and focuses more on the ecological functions of forests and meeting the domestic needs of the rural and tribal population for fuel wood, fodder, non-timber forest produce, and small timber. Keeping in view the basic perspective of the NFP, 1988 in the frontline, coupled with state-specific understanding the Government of Goa has come out with the Goa State Forest Policy 2009. The main objectives of this policy are to:

• Maintain environmental stability through preservation and restoration of the ecological balance;
• Conserve the natural heritage of the state by preserving the natural forests of Western Ghats;
• Control soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas of rivers, lakes, reservoirs;
• Conserve and expand mangroves of coastal belt plantation to minimize beach erosion and to mitigate the severity of natural calamities;
• Increase the tree cover and improve the canopy density of forest;
• Meet the requirements of fuel wood, fodder, non-timber forest produce, and small timber of the rural and tribal population;
• Develop and protect wildlife and their habitat;
• Develop and promote ecotourism;
• Protect, conserve and manage government forest areas on sustainable forest management principles;
• In-situ and ex-situ conservation and propagation of endemic, rare, endangered species and medicinal plants;
• Institution building at village level for joint forest management (JFM);
• Undertake forestry research, environmental education, training and extension;
• Capacity building by imparting induction and in service training to forest personnel.