Issues and threats Forestry in India

1 issues , threats

1.1 chipko movement
1.2 shifting cultivation
1.3 timber mafia , forest cover

issues , threats
chipko movement

chipko movement in india started in 1970s around dispute on how , should have right harvest forest resources. although chipko movement practically non-existent in uttarakhand, indian state of origin, remains 1 of deployed examples of environmental , people s movement in developing countries such india. caused chipko subject of debate; neopopulists theorise chipko environmental movement , attempt save forests, while others suggest chipko movement had nothing eco-conservation, driven demand equal rights harvest forests local communities.

according 1 set of writers: since 1970s, realised deforestation threatened not ecology livelihood in variety of ways, people have become more interested , involved in conservation. best known popular activist movement chipko movement, in local women under leadership of chandi prasad bhatt , sunderlal bahuguna, decided fight government , vested interests save trees. residents declared embrace—literally stick (chipkna in hindi)--trees prevent cutting of ash trees in district.

according critique ecological awareness , similar theories, chipko had nothing protecting forests, rather economic struggle using traditional indian way of non-violence. these scientists point out little left of chipko movements today in region of origin save memory, though quality of forests , use remains critical issue india. explain cause of chipko movement, find government officials had ignored subsistence issues of local communities, depended on forests fuel, fodder, fertiliser , sustenance resources. these researchers claim local interviews , fact finding confirms local communities had filed complaints requesting right commercially exploit forests around them. requests denied, while permits fell trees , exploit same forests granted government-favoured non-resident contractors including sporting company named symonds. protest became chipko movement followed. movement grew , indian government responded imposing 15-year ban on felling trees above 1000 metres in region directly result of chipko agitations. legislation resented many communities supporting chipko because, regulation further excluded local people forest around them. opposition legislation resulted in so-called ped katao andolan in same region, movement cut trees down in order defy new legislation. people behind chipko movement felt government did not understand or care economic situation.

chipko movement, @ least, suggests forests in india important , integral resource communities live within these forests, or survive near fringes of these forests.

shifting cultivation

an example of jhum cultivation, or slash , burn type farming, india s northeast.

a major threat forests of india in northeastern states. ancient times, locals have practiced slash-and-burn shifting cultivation grow food. locally called jhum, supports 450,000 families in arunachal pradesh, nagaland, manipur, mizoram, tripura, assam , meghalaya. approximately 15,000 square kilometers of forest land under jhum cultivation, , sixth of land producing crop @ given year. tribal people consider tradition, , economic ecosystem. however, slash , burn causes damage dense forest, soil, flora , fauna, pollution. crop yields poor jhum cultivation. between 2010 , 2012, satellite studies confirmed net loss of forest cover on these northeastern states. lost forest includes primary dense forests. there concerted effort state government officials educate, incentivize , train jhum dependent families horticulture , other high value crops, along offer of food supply security. bamboo-based textiles , value added forest products industries being encouraged local officials. states such arunachal pradesh reported reduction in jhum cultivation practice in 2013.

timber mafia , forest cover

a 1999 publication claimed protected forest areas in several parts of india, such jammu , kashmir, himachal pradesh, karnataka , jharkhand, vulnerable illegal logging timber mafias have coopted or intimidated forestry officials, local politicians, businesses , citizenry.

despite these local criminal , corruption issues, satellite data analysis , 2010 fao report finds india has added on 4 million hectares of forest cover, 7% increase, between 1990 , 2010.