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W.B.C.S. Examination Notes On – Forest Conservation – Ecology And Environment Notes.
Adopting methods to regulate cutting:
(i) Clear cutting,Continue Reading W.B.C.S. Examination Notes On – Forest Conservation – Ecology And Environment Notes.
(ii) Selective cutting,
(iii) Shelter woodcutting.
The clear cutting method is useful for those areas where the same types of trees are available over a large area. In such case, trees of same age group are cut down in a selected area and then marked for replantation. But in selective cutting only mature trees are selected for cutting. This process is to be followed in rotation.
Shelter woodcutting is where first of all useless trees are cut down followed by medium and best quality timber trees.
In regulated cutting only one-tenth of the forest area is selected for use and rotational system is always followed for their protection. This technique is called the ‘sustained yield’ method.
ii. Control over Forest Fire:
Destruction or loss of forest by fire is fairly common; because trees are highly exposed to fire and once started it becomes difficult to control.
Sometimes, the fire starts by natural process, i.e., by lightning or by friction between trees during speedy winds, while in most cases it is also by man either intentionally or unintentionally. In order to save forests from fire, it is necessary to adopt latest techniques of firefighting and trained staff.
Some of the fire suppression techniques are to develop three metre wide fire lanes around the periphery of the fire, back fires, arrangement of water spray, fire retardant chemicals should be sprayed from back tank and if possible by helicopters.
iii. Reforestation and Afforestation:
The sustained yield concept dictates that whenever timber is removed, either by block cutting or by selective cutting, the denuded area must be reforested. Similarly, any forested land, which has been destroyed by fire or mining activities, should be reforested. In rugged terrain aerial seeding is the method of choice.
Besides all this, fresh afforestation programmes should be started. This would increase the forest cover as well help in making up the eco-balance. Selection of trees should be done according to local geographical conditions
iv. Forest Clearance for Agricultural & Habitation Purposes:
For the development of villages, towns and cities, forestlands have been cleared and this process continues to this day causing loss of forest cover. This should be checked and green belts around cities be developed.
Most of the present-day agricultural land was once forested and then cleared for the use of agriculture; it has reached a stage where further clearance will be dangerous for the entire ecosystem.
According to an estimate, about 40 million sq. km of land is used for shifting cultivation by 200 million tribals of the world.
v. Protection of Forests:
Apart from commercial cutting, unorganized grazing is also one of the reasons. There are several forest diseases resulting from parasitic fungi, rusts, mistletoes, viruses and nematodes, which cause the destruction of trees.
The forests should be protected either by use of chemical spray, antibiotics or by development of disease resistant strains of trees.
vi. Proper Utilization of Forest and Forests Products:
Generally, trees are cut for logs and the rest, including stump, limbs, branches and foliage, etc., is left out as worthless debris. Further waste occurs at the sawmills. Therefore there is a need to utilize this waste material.
Similarly, forests can be used or developed as tourist centres. The concepts of ‘national park’ and ‘game sanctuary’ have now become popular. This is a good method of forest conservation.
vii. Role of Government and Forest Management:
Implementation of the policies in an effective manner is the need of the hour.
(i) Pass acts for the conservation of forests,
(ii) Survey of the forest resources,
(iii) Categorization of forest areas and proper delimitation of reserved forest areas,
(iv) Find out the areas where reforestation can be done,
(v) Regulate the commercial use of forest products,
(vi) Protect forest from fire, mining and other natural calamities,
(vii) Develop national parks,
(viii) Encourage forests developmental activities like social forestry, agro-forestry, etc., and
(ix) Prepare master plans, both for long-term and short-term period, etc.
(x) Administrative setting for forest management,
(xi) Training programmes for persons engaged in forest conservation activities,
(xii) Development of new techniques for the conservation of forests,
(xiii) Research for efficient use and conservation of forest, and
In brief, conservation of forest resources can be done by cooperative efforts of the government, non-government organizations and the public through a proper management system.
The NFAP identified five interrelated basic issues confronting forestry development in India which form the basis of the following programme structures.
1. Protect Existing Forests Resources:
It has three main sub-programmes:
(i) Forest protection,
(ii) Soil and water conservation,
(iii) Protected areas and biodiversity conservation.
These include the works of forest survey, demarcation and mapping, inventory, biodiversity conservation, protected area management, protection against poaching, encroachment and fire, and other related issues.
2. Improve Forest Productivity:
It has four main sub-programmes:
(i) Rehabilitation of degraded forests,
(ii) Research and technology development,
(iii) Development of Non-wood forest products (NWFP’s)
(iv) Assisting private initiatives with community participation.
These mainly involve research, improvement in technology, enrichment planting, soil and water conservation, regeneration, rehabilitation, and afforestation, mainly in existing forests.
3. Reduce Total Demand:
It has three main sub-programmes for the efficient use of:
(i) Fuel wood and fodder,
(ii) Timber
(iii) NWFPs.
This includes programme for reduction of demand placed on forests through the technology of preservation, seasoning, substitutions, and other measures for the efficient utilization of forest products and also through biomass plantations.
4. Strengthen Policy and Institutional Framework:
It has three main sub-programmes:
(i) Central forestry administration,
(ii) Central forestry institutions,
(iii) State forestry administration and institutions.
These include the development of infrastructure such as buildings, communications, etc. and strengthening of staff including HRD. This issue also covers all aspects of capacity- building, forest policy and legislation, public forest administration and organizational structure, research, planning and budgeting.
5. Expand Forest Area:
It has two main sub-programmes:
(i) Tree plantation on forest and non-forest lands,
(ii) People’s participation in plantations and its protection.
This issue includes the extension of forestry programme in all kind of wastelands and marginal farmlands. It also includes the programme of certain of plantation forests through wasteland reclamation, afforestation, and promotion of agroforestry.
Forestry is a concurrent subject in the Indian Constitution, being under the purview of both the central and state governments.
The first forest policy of India was enunciated in 1894 which focused on commercial exploitation of timber and gave importance to permanent cultivation. This was revised in 1952 and a new forest policy recognized the protective role of forests and proposed that one-third of the land area of the country be retained under forest and tree cover.
It was only in 1988 that a shift in policy occurred when the Government of India adopted the National Forest Policy (NFP), 1988, recognizing the rights of the people over forests.
The Government of India in 1992 with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), prepared the National Forestry Action Programme (NFAP). It is a comprehensive work plan for sustainable development of forests in India.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002 for Forest Conservation:
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, aims to protect the biological resources of the country, and thus, addresses forest ecology in its totality.
73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution:
The 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution, 1992, makes it mandatory for all states to decentralize governance through a three-tier structure, viz. the state, district, and local bodies (called Panchayati Raj institutions).
Among the 29 functions recommended for decentralization, three relate to forestry, i.e. Social forestry, Fuel Wood Plantations, and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP). Thus, the legal basis for effective people’s participation in forest protection and forest management is now available.
The Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE):
In order to strengthen the system of forestry research in India, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous umbrella organization, was established in 1986.
Its functions include aid to and promoting forestry research and its application, acting as a clearing house for research results and information, dissemination of technology, etc.
Research Institutions apart from ICFRE:
a. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi
b. Madhya Pradesh Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur
c. Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, Bangalore
Institutions dealing with Forest Conservation in India:
a. Indian Institute of-Forest Management, Bhopal
b. Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun
c. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun
d. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
e. State Forest Service Colleges, Dehradun, Burnihat, and Coimbatore
f. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata
g. Zoological Survey of India, Dehradun
h. Forest Survey of India, Dehradun
i. National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi
j. GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Almora
k. Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore
l. Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi
m. Centre for Ecological Research and Training, Bangalore.
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