Social forestry in Uttar Pradesh is a crucial endeavor aimed at ecological restoration, rural development, and sustainable resource management. The state government has implemented several initiatives and strategies to promote social forestry:

• “Trees Outside Forests in India” Program:
  • Launched jointly by the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department of Uttar Pradesh and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), this program focuses on tree plantation beyond traditional forest areas.
  • It encourages large-scale tree plantation along roads, railways, and other non-forest lands to enhance green cover and ecosystem services.
• Vision 2023: Afforestation:
  • The government aims to increase the forest and tree cover in Uttar Pradesh to 15 percent of the total area by 2030 (currently around 9 percent).
  • This ambitious vision involves extensive afforestation efforts, including planting native tree species and restoring degraded lands.
• Social Forestry in Urban Areas:
  • The state government promotes plantation work in urban areas.
  • Initiatives include creating urban forests, green belts, and parks to enhance green cover and mitigate climate change effects.
  • Urban social forestry contributes to improving air quality, aesthetics, and overall well-being.
• Joint Forest Management (JFM) Program:
  • Uttar Pradesh actively involves local communities in the management and protection of forest resources.
  • Under JFM, community participation ensures sustainable forest use, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood improvement.
  • The state has implemented large-scale tree plantation drives through community involvement.
• Record-Breaking Tree Plantation:
  • Uttar Pradesh achieved a Guinness World Record by planting 1 crore trees on a single day (July 31, 2017).
  • Such massive tree-planting events contribute significantly to social forestry and environmental conservation.

These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to fostering community participation, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic development through social forestry in Uttar Pradesh.

Q. What do you mean by “Social forestry”?