Prof (Dr) R.D. Gupta
Since the Forest Conservation Act 1980 came to fore, the Central Government has been in charge of sanctioning approvals of forest land diversion despite the fact to keep deforestion minimum. Yet, between 1980 and 2010, more than 10,000 projects have been cleared whereunder about 1 million hectares of land was diverted. The State of Jammu and Kashmir has also not remained lagging behind as far as the illicit cutting of forest trees is concerned in the name of various developmental activities. Increasing human and livestock population construction of new highways and roads, illegal felling of trees have led to 50% degradation of forests in Jammu and Kashmir during the past three decades (1981-2011). The movement of security forces in the state due to militancy is also a factor creating the present situation.
The exploitation of forest resources from Jammu and Kashmir has created an environmental holocaust. A few decades back there were massive forests and their thick vegetation cover over the surface but in recent years, the vegetation is on the verge of depletion. Once the large expanse of rich, dense and green sylvan groves of deodar (Cedrus deodara), kail (Pinus wallichiana), fir (Abies pindrow) and chir (Pinus roxburghii) of Chenab valley in the Jammu region and those of Lolab valley in Kashmir region had been compared with the famous Black Forests of Germany. The western visitors have found in their lush, flowery and grassy meadows an answer to the beauties of the highlands of Switzerland. But nowadays these forests have lost their eminence. Heavy deforestation in these areas has resulted into multidimensional ecological and environmental crisis such as denudation, sheet, rill and gully erosion, landslides, flash floods and change of climate. The hydrological cycle has also totally changed. Most of the springs in the hilly region have become dried.
Perishing Plant Kingdom
As already stated, our State had one of the best managed forest cover in the country, which provided the best suitable environment for both wild animals and plants. But unfortunately, after independence, the forests were virtually destroyed by the locals, forest contractors and other agencies, this brought the extinction of a number of plant species in addition to animal and bird species. A few examples are quoted hereunder:
* The author still recalls those remarkable days of early 1960, when chilgoza or neoza-a dry fruit used to sell abundantly in the market like moongphali, but now this fruit has become very rare. This has happened due to overexploitation of the Pinus gerardiana tree species by the locals and the forest contractors, from which chilgoza is obtained. This coniferous tree species used to grow largely in the higher hills of Kishtwar, district (Jammu) and Kinnaur areas of Himachal Pradesh. Its number has now considerably decreased, which in turn has resulted in very low quantity of this fruit in the market. It is now very costly, which eventually becomes beyond the reach of the common people. Many young generations do not know about this fruit.
* Before 1947, sohanjna (Moringa olifera) in vernacular is a large deciduous tree, used to meet in foothills of Jammu in quite a large number. However, this tree is now going to extinct. Its pods and roots are cooked, and also pickled. Seeds produce an oil which has great value in the market as it is used by the perfumers for absorbing quality.
* Dioscorea belophylla, is another plant species which is losing its eminence due to its low availability. It is locally called “tarar”. It is a climber, growing in sub-Himalayan tract upon 1200-1300m altitude. About 3 or 4 decades ago, the roots (tuberous fleshy) of this tree used to be available in large quantity in the market but this is no more now. It is because of its over-exploitation. The roots of this tree make excellent dish on cooking. It is also pickled.
* Like sohanjna and tarar, craib or goalmanda (Telsoma pallida) also used to be a common plant (climber) in the sub-Himalayan region upto an elevation of 1000m. Its flowers are edible and constitute a delicacy on account of excellent culinary preparation made out of it . these days, this plant has also become an endangered species.
* Kalaua (Momardica dioica), is a climber and used to grow abundantly in the foothills of Jammu, especially in the kandi belt. It is also called janili kerela (bitter gourd), and is cooked as a vegetable. This plant species like others also faces an extinction.
* During early 1960s and 70s, a large quantity of semidar gum obtained from Acacia modesta used to prevail in the market. It is attributed to more availability of this Acacia species, especially in the kandi belt of Jammu. However, this tree species is now in the stumbling situation. The branches of this species are used as tooth brush.
* The author also very much recollects the period of early 1970s and 80s, when the submontane area right from Jammu and extending to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, was full of Acacia catechu. But owing to its overexploitation for extracting catechu (katha), this tree has almost exterminated. Parmandal area of Jammu, Nurpur, Jawalaji, Una and Gagret areas of Himachal Pradesh and those of Hoshiarpur (Punjab) are the worst affected in this regard.
* Due to massive deforestation in the vale of Kashmir and high reaches of Jammu, many medicinal plant species like Acorcus calamus (Barian), Sasaurea lappa (Kuth), Atropa belladonna (Belladona producing species), Aesculus indica (Jangle Akhroat), Viola serpens (Bunafsha) are on the verge of extinction.
* About 110 years ago, the Shivaliks of Jammu like other Shivaliks were full of local amla (Phyllanthus emblica) as well as harar (Terminalia chebula) and bahera (Terminalla belerica) but now the population of these species has very much decreased.
* Jammu and Kashmir has 5 species of oaks viz; Banj (Quercus incana or leucotrichophora), Mohru (Q.floribunda), Eeru (Q. baloot), Banji (Q. glauca) and Kharsu (Q.semecarpifolia). These evergreen oaks like other Himalayan states of north India, are dying in thousands due to deforestation, population pressure, soil erosion and over exploitation.
* Lopping for fuel wood and fodder has accelerated the process of forest depletion. Chirpine in Rajouri, Poonch districts and in Gool Gulabgarh belt has been heavily lopped and as a result this is drying up in large number. Similar is the situation in submountainous Siwaliks of Jammu locally known as kandi belt. Lopping of broad leaved trees for fodder has threatened out of existence. Besides species like Bahera, Harar and Amla, Kachnar and Dhaman, are disappearing in large number as a result of lopping. Tree species like Shisham, Khair and others have been so heavily cut and sold that their seed sources are endangered.
* The medicinal flora outside the demarcated forests of Jammu and Kashmir, has also suffered in this wide spread devastation. Common medicinal trees like Amla, Bahera, Harar, Neem, Arjun, Imli and others are now rare and some hardly found as botanical specimens. Grazing, browsing, wild fire and water erosion have degraded the forests and environment to much that the medicinal plants resources are nearing disappearance. Sarpgandha, Kins, Bankakri, Barian, Kuth, Belladona, Sweet worm wood, Atis root, Banafsha, Gajjarmula, Foxglove etc; are some of medicinal plant species which are endangered to extinct.
Control measures
* In light of the above, it becomes imperative to revive the habitats of the endangered fauna by providing adequate tree cover. As indiscriminate felling of trees shrinks forest so this practice must be totally stopped.
* Afforestation and the rehabilitation of the eroded areas are the other adequate measures to conserve the flora and fauna.
* Overgrazing of the pastures should be stopped immediately. Illicit cutting of forests may also be stopped. By this act, the denudation caused by overgrazing and soil erosion/landslides will be checked. This will ameliorate the habitat for staying the animal species.
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