Leasehold Forest Policy, 2002.

This Policy lays down the context, captures the existing policies relating to leasehold forest and the existing process to hand-over any part of national forest as leasehold forest. Further, it highlights the current problems with handing over the leasehold forestry to marginally poor & small farmers, to corporate bodies & industries and for eco-tourism. The Policy recommends providing lands such as shrub lands, rehabilitated forest areas destroyed by natural disaster, land returned from encroachers, forest area with less crown coverage and sensitive areas to ensure soil conservation. The Policy lays down separate procedures to be followed while providing leasehold forest to families below poverty line, industry & institutional organization and for eco-tourism to ensure the process is efficient and the objectives are met.