Forests of Hyderabad State

The Forest Department was created in 1867 A.D. It remained under non-technical Heads for 44 years during which period some of the important species were declared Reserved. "Reserves" were exploited by means of rated permits issued to contractors. In 1912 A.D., the Department was reorganized and forest areas were selected for reservation. The present policy is to improve the existing 12,172.84 square miles of forests, mostly confined to the eastern half of the State and reclothe the eroded, treeless western half by anti-erosion and afforestation methods and thus increase the present 14.9% area of the forests to 33%.