A STUDY OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO CONTROL AND REGULATE TIMBER TRADE IN INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF TRIPURA

Abstract

India has been concerned about its forest boundary since 1894 but the approach has newlineundergone a sea change. In 1894 the forest and forest produce was considered to be a source newlineof revenue for the State. Eventually there has been shift in thinking. Progressively it was newlinerealised the even if forest produce has been and continues to be a source of revenue for the newlineState, the trade in forest produce needs to be controlled and regulated. Several methods and newlinemodalities were devised to control and regulate trade in forest produce. Unfortunately until newlinerecently, such measures were not highly successful until very recently. The rules laid down newlinewere largely circumvented and evaded. Timber, a major forest produce, was also subject to newlinesuch rules laid down under the Forest Act, 1927 and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. newlineWith the concept of development and the increasing global population, the demand for timber newlinehas increased many folds. All trade have an impact on natural resources directly or indirectly newlinebut timber trade impacts the natural resources in a big way. Consequently, global climate newlinechange, decrease in forest cover and biodiversity loss have become subjects of international newlineconcern. As a result of centuries of dreadful exploitation many natural forest and bionetworks newlineare now gravely in danger. newlineThe focus of this theses is to deal with one of the most important and major cause of newlinedeforestation, namely, timber trade. Therefore the sustainability of the national and newlineinternational timber trade are crucial to the survival of biologically rich forests ecosystems. newlineTimber trade is not confined to domestic trade only it has a international market. The newlineinternational trade regime also fails to focus on issues relating to timber trade. Processes like newlinenon-tariff barriers and technical barriers to trade could have been utilize effectively for newlinesustainable management of timber trade and prevention of illegal trading in timber. newlineUnfortunately that is not being done newlineIt was the Supreme Court which played a positive and proactive role