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Forest Conservation in India

2022 OCT 17

Mains   > Environment & Ecology   >   Degradation & Deforestation   >   Deforestation

IN NEWS:

  • Recently, “Mainstreaming biodiversity in forestry” report was released by the UN body Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

MORE ON NEWS:

  • According to the report, forests that are managed primarily for economic benefits are critical for biodiversity conservation and the report opined that mainstreaming biodiversity in such forests is paramount.

What is ‘Mainstreaming Biodiversity’:

  • Embedding biodiversity considerations into policies, strategies and practices of key public and private actors to promote the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources is called ‘mainstreaming biodiversity’.
  • Mainstreaming biodiversity in forestry involves prioritising forest policies, plans, programmes, projects and investments that have a positive impact on biodiversity at the ecosystem, species and genetic levels.
  • The report found that weak governance and law enforcement are the biggest stumbling blocks behind biodiversity conservation in protected areas.
  • According to the report, deforestation is the greatest driver of the loss of valuable biodiversity, with around 10 million hectares lost to deforestation each year, mainly for agricultural expansion.

WHAT IS FOREST CONSERVATION?

  • Forest conservation is the practice of planting and maintaining forested areas for the benefit and sustainability of future generations.
  • It does not mean the denial of use, but rather the proper use without causing any adverse effect on our economy and environment.
  • Growing awareness on the part of governments and the general public, in India and around the world, of the benefits of forests to humans, has given rise to government agencies and a thriving industry devoted to forest conservation.

TECHNIQUES USED FOR FOREST CONSERVATION:

  • Reforestation and Afforestation:
    • Reforestation is the process of planting trees in a forest where the number of trees has been decreasing.
    • Afforestation is when new trees are planted or seeds are sown in an area where there were no trees before, creating a new forest.
  • Selective logging:
    • It is a method used to meet the needs of both the forests and humans seeking economical resources
    • Selective logging is the removal of trees within a stand based on size limitations
    • This technique allows for forest regeneration to occur between and after the selective harvest cycles
  • Controlling forest fires
    • Forest fires are the most common and deadly cause of loss of forests. Th
    • Hence, precautions must be taken for such incidents. Making fire lanes, spreading chemicals to control fire, clearing out dry leaves and trees etc.
  • Better farming practices
    • Slash and burn farming, overgrazing by cattle etc. are farming practices that are harmful to the environment and particularly to forests. Hence, these practices must be kept under control.
  • Checking forest clearances for urbanisation
    • In the era of rapid urbanization and industrialization, clearing of forests either by encroachment or actual grant of permission is often done
    • Hence, strict policies should be in place, so as to avert forest land from urban encroachment

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOREST CONSERVATION:

  • Mitigating the effects of climate change:
    • Forests are integral in regulating ecosystemsinfluencing the carbon cycle and mitigating the effects of climate change.
    • Annually, forests absorb roughly 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.
    • This absorption includes nearly 33% of the carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels.
  • Soil protection:
    • Forests also help to maintain nutrient cycling in the soil.
    • The fallen leaves of trees add humus to the soil after their ‘decomposition. Thus forests help in increasing the fertility of the soil.
  • Biodiversity:
    • Forests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet and are home to about 80 percent of the world’s land-based animals and plants (FAO).
    • Thanks to their presence and interaction, ecological processes such as pollination, seed dispersal and soil fertilization can take place.
  • Protection of water resources:
    • Forests play a key role in the protection of the world's water resources and in the global water cycle.
    • Much of the world’s drinking water comes from forested areas, and millions of people depend on high-quality freshwater flowing from forests (FAO).
    • Forests absorb water as direct rainfall from the atmosphere and through their roots from the ground.Through a process of evapo-transpiration, they then re-release water to the atmosphere. Without this process, a key part of the global water cycle would be interrupted, resulting in increased drought and desertification.
  • Renewable raw materials:
    • Sustainably produced wood and paper-based goods are a wise, renewable and environmentally friendly choice compared to other materials such as plastics, which alone, use 4% of the total global oil production.
    • Similarly, energy production from forest-based wood and biomass can replace other more greenhouse-gas intensive products, such as oil and coal.
  • Cope with natural disasters:
    • Forests also influence nature’s capacity to cope with natural hazards, acting as barriers against heavy rains, flooding and strong winds.
    • They help control or reduce the risk of soil erosion, landslides and avalanches.
    • Forests therefore have an important role in protecting the homes and communities (FAO) of animals and people, and they help to maintain the environmental conditions needed for agricultural production.
  • Socio-economic significance:
    • Livelihood benefits:
      • Forests contribute to the livelihoods of some 1.6 billion people worldwide, including 60 million indigenous people who are fully dependent upon them.
      • Fuelwood and charcoal are the main sources of energy for an estimated two billion people around the world.
      • Two billion people rely on traditional medicines from forests for their health.
      • Forest-based activities such as hunting and fishing provide over 20% of household protein requirements in developing countries.
    • Survival of indigenous communities:
      • With increasing deforestation, the culture, tradition, and survival of indigenous communities who are heavily dependent on forests are threatened.
    • Rural development:
      • Forests also contribute significantly to national and regional economies.
      • According to academics from the World Resources Instituteforest ecosystems enrich soil fertility and water availabilityenhancing agricultural productivity, and in turn the rural economy.
      • In developing countries, forest-based enterprises provide about 13–35% of all rural non-farm employment, that’s equivalent to 17 million formal sector and 30 million informal sector jobs.
    • Food security
      • Apart from humans who use nuts, mushrooms, berries found in forest, the forests also support animals which we depend on for food and other resources. Deforestation aids food insecurity in many populations.

INITIATIVES TAKEN FOR FOREST CONSERVATION IN INDIA:

  • Constitutional provisions:
    • Forests are included in the Concurrent List in the (Seventh Schedule) of the Constitution of India.Through the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 Forests and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds were transferred from State to Concurrent List.
    • Article 48 A in the Directive Principles of State policy:
      • It mandates that the State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
    • Article 21 includes the right to a healthy environment:
      • The Supreme Court held that the right to life under Article 21 includes the rights to free water and free air from pollution for the full enjoyment of life in the case of Subhash Kumar v/s State of Bihar
    • Article 51 A (g) :
      • It states that it shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests and Wildlife
  • Indian Forest Policy, 1952
    • This was a simple extension of colonial forest policy, which became conscious about the need to increase forest cover to on-third of total land area
  • Forest Conservation Act 1980:
    • Objectives
      • Protect the forest along with its flora, fauna and other diverse ecological components while preserving the integrity and territory of the forests.
      • Arrest the loss of forest biodiversity
      • Prevent forest lands being converted into agricultural, grazing or for any other commercial purposes and intentions. From 1951 to 1976, about 1.6 lakh hectares of forest area was being diverted every year. The figure came down to 32,000 hectares annually between 1980 and 2011 due to the implementation of the FCA.
  • Forest policy of 1988:
    • The principal aim of National Forest Policy, 1988 is to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which are vital for sustenance of all life forms, human, animal and plant.
  • National Mission for a Green India:
    • It is one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
    • The primary aim is to protect, restore and enhance India’s diminishing forest cover.
  • National Afforestation Programme (NAP):
    • It has been implemented since 2000 for the afforestation of degraded forest lands. It is being implemented by the MoEFCC.
  • National Action Programme to Combat Desertification:
    • It was prepared in 2001 to address issues of increasing desertification and to take appropriate actions.
  • Addressing forest fires:
    • National Action Plan On Forest Fires, 2018
      • The plan also aims to reduce the vulnerability of forests against fire hazards across the diverse forest ecosystems in the country, enhancing the capabilities of institutions in fighting fires, and accelerating the recovery after a fire incidence.
    • Intensification of Forest Management Scheme
      • The components of the scheme include forest fire control and management.
  • Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016
    • It seeks to provide an appropriate institutional mechanism, both at the Centre and in each State and Union Territory, to ensure expeditious utilization in efficient and transparent manner of amounts released in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purpose which would mitigate impact of diversion of such forest land.
  • National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB)
    • It is responsible for promoting afforestation,tree planting, ecological restoration and eco-development activities in the country, with special attention to the degraded forest areas and lands adjoining the forest areas, national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas as well as the ecologically fragile areas like the Western Himalayas, Aravallis, Western Ghats, etc.
  • National Green Tribunal Act:
    • The Tribunal is tasked with providing effective and expeditious remedy in cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources and enforcement of any legal right relating to environment.
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972:
  • The Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
  • Support NGOs/movements:
    • The Chipko Movement is a living examples of how general public action on forests can help conserve them
    • NGOs like the TREE Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, and Rainforest Action Network offset deforestation and conserve threatened ecosystems around the world
    • In the absence of effective and environmentally-friendly governance in many areas, NGOs provide important organizational and monetary support for a variety of conservation efforts.

CHALLENGES:

  • Economic pressure on forests:
    • Due to the rising population there is enormous pressure on forest land for extraction of forest based industries and encroachment for extension of agriculture.
    • It is estimated that the demand for timber is growing at a faster speed from 58 million cubic meters in 2005 to 153 million cubic meters in 2020.
    • In India 67 per cent of the rural household depend on firewood for cooking.
  • Diversion of forest land to non-forest use:
    • A large part of our achievements made by virtue of afforestation are neutralized by diversion of forest land for non-forest use.
    • In 2019 alone, a total 11,467 hectares forest lands were diverted in 22 states. The largest area of forest land was diverted for irrigation and mining projects.
  • Threat of forest fires:
    • As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019 >> about 21.40% of forest cover in India is prone to fires.
  • Dilution of Forest (Conservation) Act:
    • Through proposed amendment to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, government aims to liberalise forest laws through facilitating private plantations for harvesting and exploration or extraction of oil and natural gas deep beneath forest land by drilling holes from outside the forest areas.
  • Lack of scientific techniques:
    • Scientific techniques of growing forests are also lacking in India.
    • The only natural growth of forests takes place in India whereas in many developed countries new scientific techniques are being used through which tree growth is quickened.

WAY FORWARD:

  • Reduce stress on forest resources:
    • Rural population should be provided alternate sources of fuel.
    • The customary rights and concessions were given to tribals and local people should not be allowed to exceed the carrying capacity of the land.
  • Reducing the impact of developmental activities on forests:
    • Developmental projects should be planned to have minimal damage to forests and the environment.
    • Mining constructs should have a mandatory clause of reforestation when the process of mining is over.
    • Industries should adopt anti-pollution devices and must develop and compensate for the forest loss by new plantations.
  • Community led forest management:
    • Tribal and local people should be directly involved in the protection, regeneration, and management of forests.
    • People should be encouraged to participate in the Van Mahotsava and should be made aware of the Chipko movement.
  • Encourage research:
    • Scientific methods should be adopted to check and contain forest fire diseases and pests.
    • Research on forestry should be encouraged in universities and appropriate funding should be provided for this purpose.
  • Awareness generation:
    • There should be special programs, demonstrations, seminars, and workshops to develop awareness among the people about the social relevance of the forests.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q. Critically examine the efficacy of measures taken for forest conservation in India?