In the backdrop of the essential need for maintaining a healthy forest resource, the valid concern for its continued depletion and degradation, and, being aware of the close association between people and forests, the Forest Department (Government of Jammu and Kashmir), has recently adopted a Forest Policy.
Forests are essential for soil conservation, water security, and for meeting the needs of local population for timber, firewood, fodder and other forest produce. Forests of Jammu and Kashmir exhibit remarkable diversity ranging from sub-tropical to temperate to alpine because of the distinctive geo-climatic conditions prevalent in the State.
The basic objectives of the State Forest Policy of Jammu and Kashmir are as follows -
Since forests influence, and in-turn are influenced by activities and functions of different departments like Revenue, Tourism, Sheep and Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Horticulture, Industry, Irrigation and Flood Control, Public Works Department etc, necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the policies, objectives and activities of different departments and organizations of the State are in harmony with the objectives enshrined in the State Forest Policy, and conflicts, wherever these exist, will be resolved appropriately.
The Forest Department will prepare an implementation schedule for realizing the objectives of this policy. A high powered institutional mechanism will be put in place to monitor and review the implementation of the policy.