This paper outlines certain ideas of forest conservation and sustainable management ingrained in pre-historic India. Apparently, both productive as well as protective aspects of forest vegetation were emphasized during the Vedic period (` 4500 and 1800 BC; c. 8000-1000 BC - eds.) In particular, the religious texts such as Aranyaks ("forest" works), Upanishad and Smritis contain many descriptions on the uses and management of forests, and highlight sustainability as an implicit theme.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/forestry-ancient-india-some-literary-evidences-productive-and-protective-aspects
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/bm-kumar
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/asian-agri-history
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/forests
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/forest-management
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/forest-conservation
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/sacred-groves
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/religious-beliefs
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/biodiversity-conservation
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/history
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/india