Context:

• 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.
• Following this, bamboo growing in non-forest areas will be waived off the requirement of permission for its felling or transportation for economic use.   The Centre promulgated the Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 to exempt bamboo grown in non-forest areas from definition of tree, thereby dispensing with the requirement of felling/transit permit for its economic use.
• Before this amendment, the felling and transit of bamboo grown on forest as well non-forest land attracted the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (IFA, 1927). At that time, the government contended 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.
• While on the one hand, the legal and regulatory hardships being faced by farmers and private individuals will be removed and on the other hand, it will create a viable option for cultivation in 12.6 million hectares of cultivable waste land.
• The measure was intended to go a long way in enhancing the agricultural income of farmers and tribals, especially in North-East and Central India.
• The amendment will encourage farmers and other individuals to take up plantation/ block plantation of suitable bamboo species on degraded land, in addition to plantation on agricultural land and other private lands under agroforestry mission. 

Source: PRS India and HansIndia