Prelims 2019 · Environment · Question 35
Consider the following statements:<br/>1. As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas.<br/>2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce.<br/>3. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers.<br/><br/>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer
2 and 3 only
1. Incorrect. The relevant change was through the Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance/Act, 2017, which removed bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of tree under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. It did not give a general right to forest dwellers to fell bamboo in forest areas.
2. Correct. Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, minor forest produce explicitly includes bamboo.
3. Correct. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognizes the right of forest dwellers to own, collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce.
Therefore, statements 2 and 3 only are correct.