Question

The percentage of forest cover in India, for plain and hills, as decided by ‘Forest Policy Act’ (1988) is respectively
(A)60%, 40%
(B)33%, 67%
(C)20%, 33%
(D)70%, 30%

Answer 1

Hint: The National Forest Policy of 1988 is an amendment of the National Forest Policy of 1894. It was launched with the principal objective of verifying environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance. This includes atmospheric equilibrium which is essential for the sustenance of all life forms, that is plant, animal and human.

Complete answer:
According to the National Forest Policy of 1988, “In the hills and in mountainous regions, the aim should be to maintain two-third of the area under such cover in order to prevent erosion and land degradation and to ensure the stability of the fragile ecosystem.”
Thus, we can say that the percentage of forest cover in the mountainous regions should be more than that of the plains.
Out of the four options given, the second option is the correct one as it shows 33% of forest cover in plains and 67% forest cover in mountainous regions and hills.

Hence the correct answer is option(B)

Note: The main objectives of the National Forest Policy of 1988 were enlisted as maintenance, protection, conservation and restoration of the ecological balance. These parameters have been adversely disturbed by a serious depletion of the forests where the levels of conservation of the natural heritage, protection of remaining flora and fauna and representing the genetic diversity in the country have become the matters of serious discussions. They also include massive afforestation and social forestry programmes in their reform criteria.