Finally, bamboo is not a tree!

In December 2017, the Indian Parliament passed the Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and thus removed the word ‘bamboo’ from the definition of ‘tree.’ The Amended Forest Act permits felling 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.

Scientifically speaking, bamboo is not tree but grass. However, the Indian Forest Act, 1927, considered it as tree. Accordingly, cutting bamboo from outside forests and transporting it was made unlawful. Until now, one had to seek the permission of the forest department of the state governments concerned for transporting bamboo from one place to another. Getting this permission was not easy. As a result, farmers in the bamboo-growing states, particularly in the North East, had to face harassment quite often because they could neither cut it nor transport it.

Although, many States had exempted felling and transit of various species of bamboos within the States, the inter-State movement of bamboos required permit when being in transit through other States. The farmers were facing hardships in getting the permits for felling and transit of bamboos within the State and also for outside the State. This had been identified as major impediment for the cultivation of bamboos by farmers on their land.

There was a long-pending demand to amend the obsolete law.

Harsh Vardhan, the Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, made the following points in support of the amendment:

·      Bamboo is used extensively in a variety of applications such as furnishing, yarn, pulp and paper, handicrafts, decoration and musical instruments.

·      The major objective of the amendment was 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.

·      The process to make the Bill a reality was going on for a long time and the government could no longer see tribals suffer in the country.

·      24 states had supported the move.

·      After the amendment, all the legal and regulatory hardships faced by the farmers and other individuals will be removed.

·      It would benefit the tribals, forest dweller and farmers as their income would increase.

·      It would not only increase rural income but also help in increasing green cover across the country.

This post is related to Chapter 3 of the book.

(Note: This is an important move with regard to bamboo. It can also figure as a question in the examination.)