APPENDIX XVII. 



Copy of a G. 0. no. 1503/X1II 142 of the $th September, 1920, on 



the future policy of Government with regard to afforestation. 



FOREST DEPARTMENT. 



I am directed to invite a reference to this Government's resolu- 

 tion no. 971/XIV 179, dated the 21st December, 1914 (copy 

 enclosed for ready reference), in paragraph 9, of which the general 

 policy to be observed in regard to the work of afforestation was laid 

 down. The underlined ideas of that policy were 



(1) the reclamation of ravine land with the object of rendering 



profitable land already ruined and of preventing further 

 ruin of the country-side by erosion ; 



(2) the provision of fuel and fodder reserves, thereby increas- 



ing the supply of grass and the creation of the suitable 

 breeding grounds for cattle ; and 



(3) an increase in the supply of babul bark for the Cawnpore 



Tanneries. 



No attempt, however, was then made to work out or co-ordinate 

 the methods by which these three results could be arrived at, as it 

 was felt that experience alone could suggest a solution of the pro- 

 blem. It was decided that a beginning should be made by inviting 

 landholders in the Jumna-Chambal ravine tract in the Etawah dis- 

 trict to submit applications under section 38 of the Indian Forest 

 Act, and over 20,000 acres in that tract were accordingly handed 

 over to the Forest department under agreement, practically all by 

 three large landholders who were glad to oblige Government in 

 that matter. 



2. The area thus acquired has been under the management of 

 the Forest department for about four years and the following con- 

 clusions emerge from the experience that has now been gained : 

 (1) that from the point of view of universal ravine reclamation 

 the scheme is of the limited value. Afforestation as a 

 method of dealing with such ravines is now a proven 

 success, but as a practical proposition the method is not 

 capable of universal application. Its effect on the ground 

 reclaimed is admirable and it prevents further encroach- 

 ment by ravines on the agricultural land directly 

 behind it, but it is always liable to be " outflanked " 

 by untreated ravines, so that unless the blocks taken 

 up are large, the protective effect is small and local. 

 Further, as the majority of the villages are situated 



