The President, Ram Nath Kovind today cleared an ordinance amending the Indian Forest Act, 1927. <br/><br/>The ordinance omits bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of trees, thereby exempting it from requiring permits for felling or transportation. <br/><br/>Before the ordinance, the definition of tree in the Act included palm, bamboo, brushwood and cane.<br/><br/>The move is aimed at encouraging bamboo plantations, which will contribute to achieving the objective of doubling the farmers' incomes by 2022. <br/><br/>Bamboo grown in forest areas shall continue to be governed by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.