What new developments have occurred in forestry in Asia and Africa in recent times?
In recent times, Asian and African Governments
introduced social forestry and the policy of keeping forest communities away from forests have only resulted in conflicts. Conservation of forests rather than collecting timber became the primary aim.
In order to meet this goal, the government realised that the involvement of people living near the forests is must. Infact, across India from Mizoram to Kerala dense forests have survived only because villagers protected them in sacred groves known as Sarnas, Devarakudu, Kan, Rai, etc. Some villagers patrolled their own forest with each household taking it in turns instead of leaving it to forest guards.