Forestry and Tribal Rights in India: Symbiotic relationship between Forests and Tribals

Forests constitute the green gold of the Nation. They are natural asset of inestimable value. They also supply a variety of much needed forest products such as timber, firewood, industrial raw materials for making paper and minor forest products like honey, wax, medicinal plants etc. Forests are the homes of wildlife and add to the scenic beauty of the landscape. They have protective, productive and recreational functions. The need for them is realized only when destruction of forests brings about distress to the people. People suffer due to shortage of essential forest products, flood and damage to agricultural lands. These affect the economy of the State. To prevent these calamities the government imposes reasonable restrictions to counteract the urge of man to use forests for his immediate benefit. But the people, especially the tribals or the forest-dwellers should be made forest-minded and their willing co-operation is essentially required for the protection of forests.