Forest conservation and tribal health status: an emerging problem in India.

However, in 1988 the National Forest Policy heralded a significant shift in forest policy by acknowledging the needs and interests of local communities concerning their utilization of forest resources, and involving them in the protection and regeneration of forests. However, deforestation and violation of local community interests continued, due to the conflict between conserving endangered natural resources and promoting the economic development of forest communities, which often failed to protect forests 4 .