Bamboo-Not a Timber: Implications and Concerns

Abstract

Bamboo has been removed from the definition of tree under the Indian Forest Act 1927. This has been as a response to the demand for relaxing the legal framework that governed the bamboos grown in private lands. Analysis reveals that this apparently looking very simple amendment has the potential of having far reaching implications on the protection and conservation of bamboo forests, bamboos as specific species found inside forests, and also on the forests having bamboo as one of the species in the vegetation-mix. Further, the amendment also impinges in a variety of ways the implementation of all Acts in the country which use the term 'tree' as defined in the Indian Forest Act. There is an urgent need, therefore, to examine the decision from a comprehensive approach and take appropriate measures to address in a focused manner the specific demand of people that fundamentally underlined the necessity of relaxing the statutory regime pertaining to the bamboos grown in private areas.