Role of Forestry in Soil Conservation Planning

Abstract

UNDER a proper soil conservatior regime, the land, whether it be wide] forests or pasture or agriculture will produce the maximum possible yiek with the least deterioration to itself. This ideal is very difficult to achieve unless everybody concerned co-operates intelligent-ly in the execution of the plan. Such a plan must take into account the existing position, the capabilities of the people of the tract, their socio-economic status, ctc.; else it will be like so many other plans which one comes across these clays which are mere idealistic records of what their framers want and not what the public can achieve. It is a moot point as to what extent one is justified in devising things for the common good against the will of the populace. Probably under a totalitarian regime the evolution of a com-plex human society can be planned, but in India such a thing M ii 1 not be possible. There are many difficulties in achieving a proper soil conservation regime in India. The pur-pose of this paper is to give an idea of the procedure to be adopted in framing such a plan, and the role " forestry " will play in such a planning.