INDIAN FOREST ADMINISTRATION DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEAR PLAN(1951-56) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO COIMBATORE- A STUDY

Abstract

Forests play a vital role in social, cultural, historical, economical and industrial development of any country and in maintaining its ecological balance. They are the resource base for sustenance of its population and a store house of biodiversity. Though forest conserved in early and medieval age of India, later under a few stable government, as the population rapidly increased and indiscriminate destruction of forests began particularly in the basins of important rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna doabs. After the advent of British, the wanton destruction of forests accelerated further and Indian woods fulfilled the demands of British empire. After India’s independence , attention of the government was drawn to the remodeling the management of Indian forests. The first five year plan focused its attention on rehabilitating the forest that had been over-exploited during the wars and consolidation and settlement of private forests taken over by the government. Regeneration operation such as Afforestation of dry fuel forests, soil conservation in low hills and Artificial regeneration to clothe the tree less area with vegetation were carried out on an extensive scale in the divisions of Coimbatore forest circle.