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Environmental Degradation Sir, Cat has finally come out from the bag. It is for the first time in the long history of the Forest Department that it has itself come out with revelation that the deptt is evolving a scheme to rehabilitate its 10000 Sq Km denuded area. Depletion of the half of total forest area, on its own admission, is a colossal loss which cannot be lost sight of. Replenishment is of course an uphill task. The revelation is a reminder to dismal performance on the part of host of agencies connected with ameliorating environment and ecological balance since decades by spending tens of crores of rupees annually. Disharmony with nature to such an extent will surely bring unforeseen catastrophe to all forms of life. Afforestation of wastelands is of vital importance for the very survival of forestry. Desired dividends would be a distant dream till the causes, that led to deforestation of any wasteland, are reckoned with. The most common reason for deforestation of any forest land is over exploitation of bio-mass from the ground and mis-management of flora. Organic matter gets decomposed through agencies of light, heat and moisture. When the process of addition of organic matter comes to halt the deforestation starts. Here not only this component but post-care of afforested sites is generally ignored. Much is said about the joint Forest Management. This is only a slogan and is likely to be praised so long as there are financial institutions doing out funds. Same is said of Social Forestry which was considered as panacea for all forestry problems. Of the total capital received from donor agencies for afforestation, the chunk has been spent on salaries of top-heavy and over staffed establishment besides funding NGOs. Glossy participation without fruitful data have been brought out to allow highly exaggerated success stories of community participatory projects. Only a negligible fraction of these funds have reached poor participants, which is far below sustainable wage rate, so the results have expectedly been dismal. Environmental preservation and bio-diversity conservation have assumed tremendous importance. The policy aiming at, generating maximum resources and to cater to needs of industry has to be given a good bye. Despite wide spread recognition of the pivotal role of forests in the well being of mankind and animal kingdom, these are getting a raw deal. Pious and attracting schemes and action plans have no meaning till atleast much desired accountability and transparency are not placed in the core of priorities of implementing agencies. Natural forests are endowed with a tremendous power of restitution and renewal. If forests and wastelands are wisely, effectively and scientifically developed and managed, these have potential of meeting needs of us all sustainably but not the greed of a section of people. I do not expect that the views presented will find favour from all. However, I would appreciate their indulgence in conveying their response in this regard. We cannot all along play with the nature. At the best, we can readily feel ashamed of our folly and greed. Yours etc... |
