Contesting the future of forest governance

“Historically, forests under government control (excluding wildlife sanctuaries or national parks) have been managed through forest departments’ working plans. These plans are rooted in the colonial misnomer of “scientific forestry”, i.e., planning and harvesting to maximise timber production. Ecologists, starting with Madhav Gadgil, questioned this approach, especially since early working plans even included clearfelling natural forests and replacing them with single-species plantations. The decline in India’s forests, evidenced by the spread of invasive species and the increase in degraded forest areas, has fuelled doubts about the appropriateness of working plans. But for forest departments, they remain an article of faith to structure their operations and mobilise financial resources.”