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From time unknown, people have worshipped, feared, culled, cleared and planted forests. Forests have always been a part of the close interaction between man and nature.

The last few decades however saw rapid deterioration in the forest cover due to encroachment, illegal felling and diversion of forest land for agricultural purposes. At present, forests cover 19 percent of the Indian land mass as against the proposed 33 percent in the national plans.

Significantly, the policy makers concerned with management of forest for economic, ecological and subsistence purposes have become increasingly aware of the important public goods that forests provide to multiple and often competing users.

The Government has started to realize that managing and policing vast tracts of forest land, within the limited financial budget, is an impossible task in absence of institutional capacity and involvement of the prime users of the forests at all levels.

The contemporary issues related to sustainable forest management in India which need urgent attention and focus are:

• Conceptualizing policies and technologies for sustainable use, management and regeneration of forest goods and services.
• Improving and stabilizing financing that supports local participation and ensures scientific management of forests and forests land.
• Reforming government structure and business practices that facilitate participation by non-government institutions and local communities in the forest management process.