The increasing population and thrust on economic g...

The increasing population and thrust on economic growth after independence created a large demand on forests in respect of needs of rural people ( fuelwood, fodder), industrial raw material and diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes (agriculture, river valley projects, mining). The signs of ecological degradation and pressure on tribals became clearly evident by 1970.

The National Commission on Agriculture (1972) identified low investment leading to low productivity of the Indian forests as the major cause of failure of forestry sector to cope with the rising demands and suggested substantial investments into forestry. It tried to achieve a balance between demands of industries and local people through concepts on production and Social Forestry. Efficiency of investments required managerial inputs from the field of management science to achieve the desired productivity