organisms. However, these biologically rich systems are increasingly threatened,
largely as a result of anthropogenic activities.
4 Legislative Control on Conversation of Forest
In ancient India, the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, and other scriptures of the Hindu
religion gave a detailed description of trees, plants and wildlife and their importance
to the people. The Rig Veda highlighted the potentialities of nature in controlling
the climate, increasing fertility and improvement of human life emphasizing on
intimate kinship with nature. Atharva Veda considered trees as abode of various
gods and goddesses. Yajur Veda emphasized that the relationship with nature and
the animals should not be that of dominion and subjugation but of mutual respect
and kindness. Kautalya’s Arthashastra, written in Mauryan period, emphasized the
need for forest administration. Samrat Ashoka went further, and his Pillar Edicts
expressed his view about the welfare of environment and biodiversity. To show that
a nature should balance all living things on the earth, Hindu Gods have come in an
incarnation where one half is human and the other half is either a bird or an animal.
9
Trees are worshiped as a sacred object.
In the modern world, the same is discussed in the name of biodiversity and
sustainable development. Leaning towards sustainability
10 is also social challenge
that entitles international and national law urban planning and transport local and
individual lifestyles and ethical consumerism. According to the Food and
Agricultural Organizations of the United Nations,
11 forest management and conservation are continuously evolving to manage and conserve forests effectively and
to address the causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss. India has managed to
protect its forest through much legislation and lately after signing biodiversity
convention has taken steps to make policies also in this regard. To discuss a few
among them are:
1. Indian Forest Act, 1927.
2. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
3. Environment Protection Act, 1986.
4. Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
5. Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
6. Central and State Policy.
Hence, each law has to be analyzed in view of protection of forest and biodiversity.
9
Ex. Narasimha avatar, Hanuman, Garuda, etc.
10
The name sustainability is derived from the Latin sustinere (tenere, to hold; sub, up). Sustain can
mean “maintain”, “support”, or “endure”.
11
Available at www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0680e/i0680e.pdf, visited on 21st April, 2015.
124
S.V. Nadagoudar
largely as a result of anthropogenic activities.
4 Legislative Control on Conversation of Forest
In ancient India, the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, and other scriptures of the Hindu
religion gave a detailed description of trees, plants and wildlife and their importance
to the people. The Rig Veda highlighted the potentialities of nature in controlling
the climate, increasing fertility and improvement of human life emphasizing on
intimate kinship with nature. Atharva Veda considered trees as abode of various
gods and goddesses. Yajur Veda emphasized that the relationship with nature and
the animals should not be that of dominion and subjugation but of mutual respect
and kindness. Kautalya’s Arthashastra, written in Mauryan period, emphasized the
need for forest administration. Samrat Ashoka went further, and his Pillar Edicts
expressed his view about the welfare of environment and biodiversity. To show that
a nature should balance all living things on the earth, Hindu Gods have come in an
incarnation where one half is human and the other half is either a bird or an animal.
9
Trees are worshiped as a sacred object.
In the modern world, the same is discussed in the name of biodiversity and
sustainable development. Leaning towards sustainability
10 is also social challenge
that entitles international and national law urban planning and transport local and
individual lifestyles and ethical consumerism. According to the Food and
Agricultural Organizations of the United Nations,
11 forest management and conservation are continuously evolving to manage and conserve forests effectively and
to address the causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss. India has managed to
protect its forest through much legislation and lately after signing biodiversity
convention has taken steps to make policies also in this regard. To discuss a few
among them are:
1. Indian Forest Act, 1927.
2. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
3. Environment Protection Act, 1986.
4. Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
5. Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
6. Central and State Policy.
Hence, each law has to be analyzed in view of protection of forest and biodiversity.
9
Ex. Narasimha avatar, Hanuman, Garuda, etc.
10
The name sustainability is derived from the Latin sustinere (tenere, to hold; sub, up). Sustain can
mean “maintain”, “support”, or “endure”.
11
Available at www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0680e/i0680e.pdf, visited on 21st April, 2015.
124
S.V. Nadagoudar