Forests in India: Issues and Conservation

Forests in India covers over 24% of India’s geographical area, providing a diverse range of ecosystems and habitats. It is crucial in sustaining biodiversity, regulating climate, and supporting local livelihoods. This article aims to study the current state of India’s forests, their challenges, and strategies for their effective conservation and management.

About Forests in India

• India’s forests cover over 24% of its geographical area and are an integral part of its natural heritage.
• They host a remarkable variety of ecosystems, from lush tropical rainforests in the Western Ghats to deciduous forests in the central regions and temperate forests in the Himalayas.
• India’s forests are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species.
• The National Forest Policy of 1988 and the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 reflect the government’s commitment to sustainable forest management and conservation.
• These policies aim to address issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.
• Despite these efforts, the forests face ongoing challenges, including illegal logging, encroachment, and the impacts of climate change.
• Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from government bodies, local communities, and environmental organisations to ensure the protection and sustainable use of India’s valuable forest resources.

Issues Related to Forests in India

• Although India has rich and varied forest resources, due to a lack of scientific planning, indigenous methods of exploitation, and mismanage­ment, its annual yield is meager.
• Meanwhile, the productivity level per hectare of forests is 3.9 cu. m. of wood per annum in France, 1.8 cu. m. in Japan, and 1.25 cu. m. in the U.S.A., and only 0.5 cu. m. in India.
• The specific problems of Indian forests are the following:

Low Forest Cover

• The forest cover in India is only 21.0 per cent, which is against the world average of about 35 per cent.
• As recommended in the National Forest Policy of India 1988, the desired forest area should be 33 per cent (25 per cent in plains and 60 percent in hilly regions) of the country’s total geographical area.
• Most of the forests of India are not gregarious, which creates problems with their exploitation.
• However, Teak, sal, bamboo, pines, oak, deodar, fir, spruce and larch are some exceptions.
• About 40 per cent of the total forest area is not easily accessible. In about 50 per cent of the total forest area, tribals have been given the rights of free grazing and cutting fuelwood and timber for their personal consumption. This right is often misused, leading to the destruction of forest areas.

Open Grazing

• The grazing of cattle, sheep, and goats, especially in hilly and mountainous areas, by the local people is causing extensive damage to the Indian forests.
• Nomadic tribes like Bakarwals, Bhutias, Gaddis, Gujjars, and Lepchas practice transhumance (seasonal migration), which damages forest ecosystems.

Shifting Cultivation

• Tribals in the hilly and mountainous areas where rainfall is more than 100 cm generally practice shifting cultivation (Jhuming).
• The increasing population pressure has reduced the Jhum Cycle to only five years in many parts of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura.
• Consequently, the forests do not have sufficient time to regenerate.

Growing Demand for Agricultural Land

• With the tremendous increase in population during the last 50 years, the demand for cereals and agricultural raw materials has increased significantly.
• Consequently, the forest area has been brought under cultivation leading to a continuous shrinkage of the forest area.

Urbanisation and Industrialisation

• Fast urbanisation and industrialization in forests and hilly areas are also important causes of forest degradation.
• Roads have been rapidly expanded in the Himalayas and other forest areas, exposing valuable forests to tourists and pleasure-seekers.

Construction of Multi-Purpose Projects

• The construction of reservoirs of big dams like Bhakra-Nangal, Rihand, Hirakud, Tehri, Sardar-Sarovar, etc., has resulted in the submergence of large forest tracts.

Commercial Activities

• Commercial activities like resin extraction, mining, quarrying, oil extraction, plantation development, and orchard development have also led to large-scale deforestation.
• Unfortunately, paper mills and sawmills have been located in forest areas, accelerating the process of deforestation.

Measures to Conserve Forests in India

Forests and wildlife are vital to the quality of life and environment in the subcontinent. Conserving forest resources is imperative for our survival.

Some of the steps that can go a long way in making forests healthy and sustainable are as under:

Increase Area of Forest Plantation

• Expanding forest plantations by utilising vacant or unused lands, wastelands, and marginal lands – such as along roadsides, railway tracks, contours, and boundaries, as well as on lands unsuitable for agricultural use—can yield significant benefits.
• Planting trees outside designated forest areas will alleviate pressure on forests for timber, fodder, and fuel wood.
  • Additionally, reforestation efforts are needed to restore deforested regions.

Reduce Population Growth and Increase per Capita Incomes

• Reducing population growth is pivotal in reducing deforestation in developing countries.
• With a reduced population, an increase in per capita income and literacy rates will occur, which will relieve pressure on the remaining forests for new human settlements and land use change.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

• Many international organisations, including the UN and the World Bank, have begun to develop programs to curb deforestation, mainly through Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), which uses direct monetary or other incentives to encourage developing countries to limit and/or roll back deforestation.
• Due to India’s efforts, REDD changed to REDD+ in COP13 in Bali. REDD+ goes beyond merely checking deforestation and forest degradation and includes conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of forest carbon stock.

Increase the Area of Forest Permanently Reserved for Timber Production

• The most serious impediment to sustainable forest management is the lack of dedicated forests for timber production.
• Without a dedicated long-term tenure for timber production, there is no incentive to care for the forest’s long-term interests.

Increase the Perceived and Actual Value of Forests

• Governments can impose realistic prices on stumpage and forest rent and invest in improving the forest’s sustainable productivity.
• Schemes could be devised to collect payments for environmental services like carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and catchment protection.

Promote Sustainable Management

• To promote sustainable forest management, it must be sustainable ecologically, economically, and socially.
• This means that silviculture and management should not reduce biodiversity, soil erosion should be controlled, soil fertility should not be lost, water quality on and off-site should be maintained, and forest health and vitality should be safeguarded, among other things.

Encouraging Substitutes

• Other materials could be substituted for tropical or other timber for all purposes. As long as there is a market for wood products, trees will continue to be cut down.
• Labelling schemes aimed at helping consumers choose environmentally friendly products can be one crucial step in this direction.

Strengthen Government and Non-Government Institutions and Policies

• Strict, regulatory and sustainable governance is essential to slow down the rate of deforestation.
• Environmental NGO’s contribution towards conservation management has been enormous.

Increase Investment in Research, Education and Extension

Training and education of stakeholders help people understand how to prevent and reduce adverse environmental effects associated with deforestation and forest activities and take appropriate action when possible.

Other Suggestions to Conserve Forests in India

• Plant trees along roads, railway lines, rivers, canal banks, and lakes and ponds. For example, see Green Highway Policy 2015.
• Development of green belts in urban areas and planting of trees on community lands.
• Provide the rural population with alternate sources of fuel-wood and wood-based products.
• Development projects, including mining and industrial activities, should be planned to cause minimum damage to forest ecosystems.
• Industries should adopt anti-pollution devices and compensate for forest loss with new plantations.
• Tribal and local people should be directly involved in the protection, regeneration, and management of forests.
• Shifting cultivation should gradually replace terraced farming, orchard development, and silviculture.
• Scientific methods should be adopted to check and contain forest fires. Strict control should be exercised over the issuing of licenses for industries in forest areas.
• More research on forests should be conducted in agricultural universities, with central and state governments providing facilities and funds. Forests should also be an important part of the course structures in schools, colleges, and universities.
• Arrangements should be made to protect forests from pests and diseases, and trees should be regularly trimmed and sprayed.
• Perfect coordination should exist between the forest and other government departments to ensure the effective and judicious use of forests and their conservation.
• People should be encouraged to participate in Van-Mahotsav and be made aware of the Chipko Movement.

Conclusion

Conserving forests in India is essential for sustaining biodiversity, combating climate change, and supporting local communities. Addressing challenges such as deforestation and land degradation through expanded plantations, sustainable management, and community involvement is crucial. By integrating strategic policies, promoting environmental education, and fostering stakeholder cooperation, India can protect its vital forest resources and ensure their health and productivity for future generations.

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