Centre has promulgated Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 to encourage bamboo cultivation in non-forest areas. <br/><br/>The ordinance exempts bamboo grown in non-forest areas from definition of tree, thereby dispensing with the requirement of felling and transit permit for its economic use. <br/><br/>Bamboo, though, taxonomically a grass, was legally defined as a tree under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. <br/><br/>Before this amendment, the felling and transit of bamboo grown on the forest as well non-forest land attracted the provisions of the Indian Forest Act and was a major impediment for bamboo cultivation by farmers on the non-forest land. <br/><br/>The Cabinet had yesterday approved the promulgation of the Ordinance in this regard. <br/><br/>Minister of Environment Dr Harsh Vardhan said bamboo grown in the forest areas shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Indian Forest Act. <br/><br/>He underlined that the amendment and the resultant change in classification of bamboo grown in non-forest areas will usher in much needed and far-reaching reforms in the bamboo sector. <br/><br/>The Minister said with the removal of legal and regulatory hardships being faced by farmers and private individuals, it will create a viable option for the cultivation of 12.6 million hectares of cultivable wasteland. <br/><br/>The measure will go a long way in enhancing the agricultural income of farmers and tribals, especially in North-East and Central India. <br/><br/>The amendment will encourage farmers and other individuals to take up plantation/ block plantation of suitable bamboo species on degraded land, in addition to the plantation on agricultural land and other private lands under the agro-forestry mission.