• The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha by Mr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change on December 18, 2017.  The Bills replaces the Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 and amends the Indian Forest Act, 1927.  The Act consolidates laws relating to forests, transit of forest-produce and the duty to be levied on them.

• Under the Act, the definition of tree includes palms, bamboos, stumps, brush-wood, and canes.  The Bill amends this definition of tree to remove the word bamboos.

• Since bamboo is defined as a tree under the Act, its inter-state movement requires permit when in transit in other states.  Consequent to the amendment, felling or transportation of bamboos growing in non-forest areas will not require any permits.  

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