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Social Forestry, Chipko, Forest Policy | ISC Class 12

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GeographyISC Class 12 · Natural Vegetation

Social Forestry, Conservation Movements and the National Forest Policy 1988 (ISC Class 12)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

India needs forest conservation because forest cover, about one-fifth of the land, is well below the target of 33 per cent. Social forestry grows trees with people's participation in five forms: agro-forestry, community forestry, commercial farm forestry, non-commercial farm forestry and urban forestry. Van Mahotsav (1950) and the Chipko Movement (1973) are conservation movements, and the National Forest Policy 1988 sets objectives such as 33 per cent cover and meeting local needs.

India's forest cover is well short of the 33% target, and social forestry closes the gap through five people-based forms of tree growing.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988

1. Forest area and forest cover. Forest area is land recorded as forest in government records (reserved, protected and unclassed forests), whether or not trees grow on it. Forest cover is land actually under tree canopy, measured by satellite: more than one hectare with canopy density above 10 per cent, irrespective of ownership. India's forest cover is about one-fifth (around 21 to 22 per cent) of its area. Some recorded forest land is degraded, and some tree-covered land such as orchards lies outside recorded forests, so cover is the better measure of real vegetation.

2. Need for conservation. Forest cover is far below the one-third target. Deforestation causes soil erosion, floods, droughts, loss of biodiversity and climate change, while rural and tribal people depend on forests for fuelwood, fodder and produce, and industries and water supply depend on them too.

3. Social forestry. It means planting and managing trees with the participation of the people, on land outside the traditional forests, to meet local needs for fuel, fodder and small timber and to improve the environment. Its five forms are:

  • Agro-forestry: trees grown together with crops (and sometimes livestock) on the same farm, for example trees on field boundaries.
  • Community forestry: trees raised on common or public land such as village commons, roadsides, canal banks and railway lines, for the community.
  • Commercial farm forestry: farmers grow trees on their own land as a crop to sell timber, pulpwood or poles, for example eucalyptus or poplar.
  • Non-commercial farm forestry: farmers grow trees on their land for their own use, such as fuelwood, fodder, fruit and small timber.
  • Urban forestry: trees planted and managed in and around cities, in parks, along roads and on vacant land, to improve the environment and reduce pollution and heat.

4. Van Mahotsav. Started in 1950 by K. M. Munshi, then Union Minister for Food and Agriculture. It is celebrated every year in the first week of July, at the start of the monsoon, by planting saplings, and its aim is to raise awareness of the value of trees and involve schools and organisations.

5. Chipko Movement. It began in 1973 in the Chamoli district of the Garhwal Himalayas (now Uttarakhand), when villagers protested against felling by contractors. 'Chipko' means to hug, and villagers, especially women, hugged trees to stop their felling. Gaura Devi led the women of Reni village in 1974, and leaders included Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Sunderlal Bahuguna. Results included a ban on commercial green felling in the Himalayan forests of Uttar Pradesh for a period, and inspiration to other movements such as Appiko in Karnataka. It was a non-violent people's movement that tied forests to livelihoods.

6. National Forest Policy 1988: objectives. Maintain environmental stability and ecological balance; conserve the natural heritage and biodiversity; check soil erosion in the catchments of rivers, lakes and reservoirs; check the spread of sand dunes in Rajasthan and along the coasts; increase forest and tree cover substantially through afforestation and social forestry, with the goal of one-third of the area (two-thirds in hills); meet the needs of rural and tribal people for fuelwood, fodder, minor produce and small timber; increase forest productivity; encourage efficient use of forest produce; and create a massive people's movement, with women, to reduce pressure on forests.

Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988: key facts

Cover target
  • 33 per cent of the area
  • two-thirds in hills
  • present cover about one-fifth
Forest cover definition
  • More than 1 hectare
  • canopy density above 10 per cent
  • any ownership
Social forestry forms
  • Agro-forestry
  • Community
  • Commercial farm
  • Non-commercial farm
  • Urban
Van Mahotsav
  • Started 1950
  • K. M. Munshi
  • first week of July
Chipko
  • 1973
  • Chamoli, Garhwal Himalayas
  • Gaura Devi, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Sunderlal Bahuguna

How to answer Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988 questions

For forestry questions, define the term, name the type or movement, and give one example or consequence.

  1. 1Define the term in one line (forest area, forest cover, social forestry).
  2. 2Name the form or movement and its year or place.
  3. 3Give the key feature (who plants, on whose land, for what use).
  4. 4Add one example (trees on field boundaries, eucalyptus, roadside planting).
  5. 5For policy, list objectives as short numbered points.

Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988 in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Which form of social forestry is it?

Suppose four households each plant trees: one plants poplars on its own field to sell as poles, one plants fruit and fodder trees for its own family, one plants trees along a village canal bank, and one plants shade trees in a city park.

Name the form of social forestry in each case.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Poplars sold from own land: commercial farm forestry.
  2. Trees for own fruit and fodder: non-commercial farm forestry.
  3. Canal bank planting: community forestry.
  4. City park: urban forestry.

Answer: Commercial farm forestry; non-commercial farm forestry; community forestry; urban forestry.

Memory hook: Whose land and whose benefit decides the form.

A protest to save trees

Suppose villagers in a hill region learn that a contractor will fell the trees near their village. A group of women walks to the forest and holds the trunks.

Name the movement this resembles, the year and region where it began, and one leader.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. It resembles the Chipko Movement.
  2. It began in 1973 in Chamoli, Garhwal Himalayas.
  3. Leaders include Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Sunderlal Bahuguna and Gaura Devi.

Answer: Chipko Movement, 1973, Chamoli; for example Gaura Devi.

Memory hook: Chipko means hug.

Tricks to remember Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • A-C-C-N-U

    Agro, Community, Commercial farm, Non-commercial farm, Urban: five forms of social forestry.

    Use it when: Listing the forms.

  • Van Mahotsav in July

    Monsoon begins, saplings go in: first week of July, started in 1950.

    Use it when: Dates.

  • Area is paper, cover is canopy

    Forest area is on records; forest cover is what satellites see.

    Use it when: Definitions.

Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Van Mahotsav · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

What is Van Mahotsav? State when and by whom it was started.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. It is a yearly tree-planting festival held in the first week of July.
  2. It was started in 1950 by K. M. Munshi.

Answer: A yearly tree-planting festival in the first week of July, started in 1950 by K. M. Munshi.

Example 2: Forest cover · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Define forest cover and state the conditions used to measure it.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Forest cover is land actually under tree canopy, measured by satellite.
  2. It counts land of more than one hectare with canopy density above 10 per cent, whatever its ownership.

Answer: Land actually under tree canopy: more than one hectare with canopy density above 10 per cent.

Example 3: Area versus cover · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Invented example: a district records 30 per cent of its land as forest, but a satellite survey finds tree canopy over only 22 per cent. Explain how both figures can be right, name each measure, and say which shows the real vegetation.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Forest area is land recorded as forest in government records, a legal and administrative category.
  2. Forest cover is land actually under tree canopy, measured by satellite.
  3. Some recorded forest land has no trees (degraded), and some tree-covered land such as orchards lies outside recorded forests.
  4. Hence cover shows the actual vegetation better.

Answer: Area is on records; cover is real canopy; the two differ as degraded forest land lacks trees and orchards lie outside records.

Example 4: Agro-forestry versus urban forestry · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain agro-forestry and urban forestry, giving one example and one benefit of each.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Agro-forestry: trees grown with crops on the same farm; example, trees on field boundaries; benefit, extra income and soil protection.
  2. Urban forestry: trees planted in and around cities; example, along roads or in parks; benefit, better environment, less pollution and heat.

Answer: Agro-forestry combines trees and crops (field-boundary trees; income and soil protection); urban forestry plants trees in cities (parks and roads; less pollution and heat).

Example 5: Evaluate a claim · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Case: A panchayat member says, "We have more than one-fifth of India's land under forest, so we have no need for the 1988 policy's target of one-third." (a) Identify the weakness. (b) State two objectives of the policy that show why more cover is needed. (c) Name the movement that links forests to livelihoods through non-violent protest.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) One-fifth is below the one-third target (two-thirds in the hills), so the policy goal is not yet met.
  2. (b) Objectives: check soil erosion in river and reservoir catchments; meet the fuelwood, fodder and produce needs of rural and tribal people; also check sand dunes and increase productivity.
  3. (c) The Chipko Movement.

Answer: (a) One-fifth is below the one-third goal (b) any two objectives such as checking erosion and meeting local needs (c) Chipko.

Where students lose marks in Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Mixing the five forms of social forestry

    Commercial and non-commercial farm forestry are both on private farms but differ in purpose.

    Do this: Commercial: to sell; non-commercial: for own use.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Wrong year or place for Chipko and Van Mahotsav

    Dates are confused.

    Wrong working

    Chipko 1950 in Karnataka; Van Mahotsav 1973

    Right working

    Chipko 1973 in Chamoli (Garhwal); Van Mahotsav 1950 by K. M. Munshi

    Do this: Pair the year with the place or person.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Treating forest area and cover as one

    Area is on records; cover is canopy.

    Do this: Give both definitions with the satellite measure.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Giving the policy goal as 33 per cent for all regions

    The goal is one-third overall and two-thirds in hills.

    Do this: Write both figures.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Answer each social forestry form with who, where and why.
  • Quote the one-third and two-thirds targets with the policy year 1988.
  • Give year, place and a leader for Chipko.
  • Use only the objectives of the policy, as the syllabus limits the question.

Practice questions on Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Commercial farm forestry means:
    (a) planting trees on common land
    (b) farmers growing trees on their land to sell timber or pulpwood
    (c) planting trees in cities
    (d) growing trees with crops for own use

    Hint

    Whose land and for what use.

    Answer

    (b).

  2. Q2 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Describe the Chipko Movement under origin, method and results.

    Hint

    Chamoli, women hugging trees.

    Answer

    It began in 1973 in Chamoli, Garhwal Himalayas, against felling by contractors. Villagers, especially women, hugged trees to stop felling, and Gaura Devi led the women of Reni in 1974. It led to a ban on commercial green felling in Himalayan forests of Uttar Pradesh for a period and inspired Appiko in Karnataka.

  3. Q3 · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Group the objectives of the 1988 policy under three heads: (a) protecting land and water, (b) raising tree cover, (c) people's needs and participation. Give two points under each head.

    Hint

    Catchments and dunes; one-third target; rural and tribal needs and women.

    Answer

    (a) Check soil erosion in the catchments of rivers, lakes and reservoirs; check sand dunes in Rajasthan and along the coasts. (b) Increase forest and tree cover through afforestation and social forestry; reach one-third of the area (two-thirds in hills). (c) Meet the fuelwood, fodder, minor produce and small timber needs of rural and tribal people; create a people's movement involving women.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain why community forestry and non-commercial farm forestry both meet local needs but differ in who owns the land.

    Hint

    Common land versus own land.

    Answer

    Community forestry uses common or public land such as village commons, roadsides and canal banks for the whole community. Non-commercial farm forestry uses a farmer's own land for the family's own fuelwood, fodder, fruit and small timber. Both meet local needs, but the land and the beneficiaries differ.

  5. Q5 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency

    Assertion (A): Forest area and forest cover are not the same.
    Reason (R): Some land recorded as forest has no tree canopy, while orchards lie outside recorded forests.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

    Hint

    Records versus canopy.

    Answer

    (a).

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Who started Van Mahotsav?Show answer

    K. M. Munshi, in 1950.

  2. 2.Where did Chipko begin?Show answer

    Chamoli district, Garhwal Himalayas.

  3. 3.What is the target for hilly and mountainous regions under the 1988 policy?Show answer

    Two-thirds of the area under forest or tree cover.

  4. 4.Name the five forms of social forestry.Show answer

    Agro, community, commercial farm, non-commercial farm and urban forestry.

  5. 5.Which movement in Karnataka was inspired by Chipko?Show answer

    Appiko.

Social Forestry, Van Mahotsav, Chipko and the National Forest Policy 1988: frequently asked questions

What does 'Chipko' mean?

To hug.

Why is social forestry needed?

To meet local needs for fuel, fodder and small timber and improve the environment through people's participation.

What is forest cover in India?

About one-fifth of the geographical area.

When is Van Mahotsav celebrated?

In the first week of July.