UPSC Prelims 2019 Question:

Consider the following statements

1. As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas.
2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce.
3. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers.
   
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

• The Indian Forest (Amendment) Act, 2017, excluded bamboo from the definition of the tree under Section 7(2) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. This amendment permits the falling and transit of bamboo grown in non-forest areas. However, bamboo grown on forest lands would continue to be classified as a tree and would be guided by the existing legal restrictions. The Amendment was enacted to promote the cultivation of bamboo in non-forest areas and improve farmers’ income, keeping in mind the Government’s “ambitious” target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• Section 2(i) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, gives a definition of minor forest produce. It defines that minor forest produce includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin including bamboo, brushwood, stumps, cane, tussar, cocoons, honey, wax, etc. So, statement 2 is correct.
  
  
• Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, Section 3(c) gives rights to forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers of ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of minor forest produce, which has been traditionally collected within or outside village boundaries. So, statement 3 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Environmental Acts and Policies