Forests at Crossroads: Strategies to Achieve Sustainability and Increased Productivity

Forest are one of the primary natural resources on the earth assisting in generation of goods and services for sustaining life. Forests and forestry has been on cross roads, post-industrial period in view of multi-fold pressures, so exerted, leading to their degradation and loss. Consequently, sustainable forest management is required for achieving best output and outcomes from forests. Forests globally have to be taken beyond present level of 31 percent and Indian forests to 33 percent of geographical area before 2030. This can happen when forest conservation, management and perpetuation gets attention these deserves from UN, other multilateral and bilateral organisations along with national and regional governments. 

The book suggests application of science and technology, involvement of all stakeholders especially communities, in tackling extrinsic pressures of forest encroachments, illegal trade, mining, forest fires, and invasive alien species, for early and best results. For achieving this forests are basically and critically defined through a separate chapter. The role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Forest Goals (GFGs), the new concepts introduced by UN for sustainable management of natural resources including forests, following synergies and where required trade-offs are discussed in details. 

The procedures and operations in managing current challenges, being faced by forest sector are elaborated along with strategies to conserve, manage and restore forests for achieving sustainability. Integrating all these to reform forest sector for appropriate, optimal and maximised performance are suggested following operational, policy and statuary application in achieving short, mid and long term sustainability. The suggested attainment of sustainable management of forests would aid in meeting needs of present generation and keeping potential of these resources for future generations. Although the book is based on illustrations from India and many other countries, but the principles, approaches and strategies so outlined and elaborated can be used globally.