PART-V: Wild species face extinction threat

GREEN GOLD IN DANGER: PART-IV
Man-animal conflict a major challenge

Ajmer Alam Wani

JAMMU, AUG 21: Though the tropical forests cover only 7 % of the earth’s land surface, they contain more than half of all living species. Estimates of the number of living species on earth vary from five million to 80 million of which only 1.4 million have been described. Wild species and the genetics variations within them make substantial contributions to the development of agriculture, medicine and industry.

According to an estimate, between 1990 and 2020, species extinction caused primarily by deforestation may eliminate between 5 and 15 per cent of the world’s species, a potential loss of 15,000 to 50,000 species a year. The forest area is considerably decreasing day by day. The satellite imageries study of National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) revealed that forest area in 1972-75 was 55.5 mha only, which reduced to just 46.3 mha in 1980-82, indicating an average rate of depletion of forest area of about 1.3 mha per year. As per India’s National Forest Policy, the present ratio is not up to the mark. The degraded forest land is approximately around 30 mha out of total 67 mha.

In order to overcome this problem, Government of India formulated National Development Wastelands Boards in 1985 and its objective was to launch intensive plantation programmes by involving local people to bring more and more degraded land under plantation cover. In order to check rapid rate of extinction of bio-diversity concerted efforts are being made by various agencies.

They are on the job to protect areas in the form of biospheres, national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves in terrestrial eco-system, mangroves and coral reefs in marine eco-system and wetlands in fresh water ecosystem. Sources further added that a network of 14 bio-spheres, 83 national parks and 447 sanctuaries cover about 18 mha area in the country. The situation is worsening and more and more agencies are being involved for the task in coming days.

The impact of deforestation is visible in urban areas too. Besides the mushrooming of hotels and residential places around some of the lakes, silt washed from the mountains during the rains is described as the main reason for shrinking of the lakes. While water bodies are shrinking, some have just vanished. For instance, the Neelnag Lake in Pulwama District and the Sanasar Lake in Udhampur District have disappeared, despite the State Government's efforts to revive them. The impact on the tourism was immediate. The total area of the Wular Lake came down by 65 sq. km from 279 sq.km., a reduction of 20 per cent. The Dal Lake has shrunk to13 sq.km. from 20 sq.km. in the last 100 years and attempts to revive it have been far from satisfactory. came down to 65

Another outcome of the unchecked deforestation in Jammu and Kashmir state, is man-animal conflict in which several people have been killed so far besides injuring scores.

During the past two years, 75 people were reported to have been killed and 330 others injured in wild animal attacks in Jammu and Kashmir state.

This reporter’s series alert Forest officials

JAMMU, AUG 21: Late Yet Better, finally the Forest Department has starting waking up to the series of reports being published by this reporter under series GREEN GOLD IN DANGER, highlighting illegal deforestation and the threats being faced by the green forests in upper reaches of the erstwhile Doda district.

Reports reaching this office in the late Friday evening said that a team of Forest officials have seized 47 kandels of timber consisting of 40, 18, 14 and 10 feet slippers in Chiralla Forest Range of Bhaderwah Forest Division which is at-lest 35 kilometers from road. The team of forest officials comprising of Forest Beat Guards Mohammed Lateef and Jaswant Singh seized 47 kandels of Deodar. The forest officials also caught one Hoshiari Lal S/o Jia Lal R/o Zila-da-Pani red handed from the spot where 2 fully green trees were shortened to ground by him for timber smuggling.

Forest smugglers have been posing major threat to the green gold in different compartments of Chiralla Forest Range which has been highlighted in details by this reporter in its previous issues under series GREEN GOLD IN DANGER. To check the menace of forest smuggling and preserve green gold from further damage, Chiralla Forest Range of Bhaderwah Forest Division requires the a permanent Forest Protection Force Post immediately.

Talking to this reporter, Forest Beat Guard Jaswant Singh while confirming the seizure admitted that the forests in Chiralla Forest Range have suffered a major damage which is continued in the absence of proper check by the previous officials”.

He added that “Chiralla is very is far-flung area, though I am moving to perform my duties honestly to save my job but as the area is very vast and widespread so the a post of Forest Protection Force (FPF) is required to protect the forest from further damage.

He, however, mentioned that if the Range Office starts functioning from Chiralla Forest Range instead of Bhaderwah town the green gold can be saved from further illegal felling. He added that 47 kandels of Deodar have been seized and case registered. When contacted, Conservator Chinab Valley Circle Doda, M.J Sharma said that he has no knowledge about the seizure. Replying another question about deforestation he disassociates himself from the giving reply, which raises few questions. However, he added, I will collect the details about the seizure and deforestation.

When contacted, Range Officer (Ranger) Forest Range Chiralla, Mohammed Haroon, held militancy the reason responsible for deforestation. He mentioned that due to the militancy Field Staff was unable to visit the area during the past few years and also the people used militants as shield to scare forest staff and go for fearless deforestation.

The officer added that the Chiralla Forest Range needs demarcation and mentioned that he had written to the higher officials and minister requesting for fresh demarcation so the Forest land encroached upon by people can be evacuated.

The officer admitted that in Compartment No-1 of Chiralla Forest Range, deforestation has been done and encroachments are very much in existence but the fresh demarcation is required to be done for proper identification of forest land which at present is not so easy as the last demarcation was done some 30 years ago, he added. So let us see how fast the Govt will react with the fresh demarcation.

Minister of Forest (MoS) Forests, Shabir Ahmed Khan when contacted said that Government is going very strict against the green felling and all those involved in cutting of green gold will be punished. He added that measures are being taken to protect the green gold across the state. He mentioned that different wings are being set-up and activated in all those area which are under the active influence of deforestation and forest smugglers.

When asked about the deforestation and encroachments in the Compartment Nos-2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 of Chiralla Forest Range, Khan said that an inquiry will be set-up into the deforestation and encroachments in Chiralla Forest Range and all possible measures will be taken to protect the green gold.

Relevant to mention here that some months back Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmed while addressing the officials of Wildlife, Forest and Forest Protection Force (FPF) had called upon Wildlife Department to take concrete steps to contain increasing man–animal conflicts, but the question rises here that authorities concerned have never tried to identify the root cause which lies in the unchecked deforestation.

The minister had described the problem of man-animal conflict as a major challenge faced by the department adding that there was a greater need to take extra caution for maintaining the perfect balance.

No doubt the minister had expressed concern over the increasing biotic pressure on natural resources in the State and had also warned that the shrinking of the State’s rich biodiversity would have direct affect on the life of the people.

However, Mian Altaf had assured that the State Government will make all out efforts to strengthen the department through additional manpower, equipment, mobility, communication facilities, veterinary care and compensation package for effective control of wildlife crimes and handling of human-wild animal conflict situations but on grounds nothing concrete is visible.

Worthwhile to mention here that the forests and landscapes not only regulate the climate of the region but these are also main attractions for the tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir so it the authorities concerned and the state Government have to think positively into the problem and came out with a practical policy to save green gold and the species which are on the verge on extension. Otherwise the day will not be far-behind when we will read about these species in books only decorated in the libraries.

PART-IV: Threat to Hydel dams, agricultural activities

GREEN GOLD IN DANGER

Ajmer Alam Wani

JAMMU, AUG 20: Deforestation and the extinction of green cover from the land and in several parts of Doda, Billawar, Ramnagar, Basohli, Akhnoor, Reasi, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Anantnag, Baramullah and Kupwara have posed a major threat to agriculture activity and the dams. The landslides which occur along Jammu-Kishtwar Highway during rains are posing major threat to the Baglihar Hydel Project Dam as the landslides material is accumulating into the river Chenab. According to the experts the main cause of landslides along the highway is mass cutting of trees done to extend the road connectivity to make more and more areas accessible. The trees were cut down during the construction of roads but no plantation was made along the highway so the land continued to slide. During monsoon, huge area of agricultural land and top soil is being eroded by the hilly nullahs, streams and the rivers. Sources said that the production of Salal Dam has been badly affected due to erosion of soil from the mountains and huge silt has been formed in the lake bed. It has added to the worry of the Government because every year, the power generation is declining fast. Several dams in the northern India are facing the similar catastrophe. Especially during winters the power generation goes very low. It appears that no proper attention was given by the planners for the afforestation activity on both sides of the Chinab river belt and adjoining areas and even effective ecological measures were avoided which should also be an important aspect of a successful Hydel project. Several irrigation projects are proving as the major failure due to increasing problem of erosion. Though, the Department of Soil Conservation, Irrigation and Flood Control have been set up for the protection of land but the top officials claim that funds provided to them for the protection works by the Government every year are not sufficient. Huge loss is caused every year to the crops and the land by rivers and nullahs but no affective measures have been taken to save hundreds and thousands kanals of land from being washed away. This process is seriously damaging food productivity, shortening the life of the dams and irrigation projects and harming productive wetlands of the region. Due to illegal deforestation the loss of top soil with great pace is directly affecting the green cover on the land and the agriculture production. The speed of soil loss every year is hundred times more that the soil formation and if the process is allowed to continue the human life on the earth may face major famines and droughts in coming decades. It may also lead to collapse of Hydel power generation. Continuous deforestation in the lower, middle and upper Himalayan ranges and increase in the level of land erosion has posed a major threat to our Hydel projects, agriculture and the normal climate of the region. The problem is not only being faced in this part of the northern region but all over the world today. A study conducted in the recent past has shown that the rate of deforestation is higher than previously estimated. It has been estimated that global tropical deforestation is most likely in the range of 14 to 20 million hectares per year.

PART-III: Armed protectors turn mute spectators to felling of green forests

GREEN GOLD IN DANGER: PART-II

Ajmer Alam Wani

JAMMU, AUG 19: Despites spending crores of rupees to create an armed force in the state under the name Forest Protection Force (FPF) with a sole motive to protect the forest wealth yet the Green Gold cover has been declining at an alarming pace in the higher reaches of erstwhile district Doda. The reasons is the field staff and armed protectors (FPF) both supposed to protect the green beauty and wealth of the Doda district are mute spectator to the felling of green forests as well as timber smuggling and do not visit the higher reaches thus have turned mute spectators to the felling to green gold and are negligent towards their duties.

Reports said that the illegal deforestation in the dense green patch of district Doda is Jammu and Kashmir, is going on at an alarming pace as the Forest Protection Force is not active enough in the higher reaches which is unconnected and have no road connectivity.

FPF men have arms, power, mission and assigned task to protect the forest felling and smuggling of Green Gold, yet, the entire system seems defunct and the goals, which were set to safeguard our future are being nowhere in focus. However, our leaders had been claiming of doing wonders but on ground, these claims look only political in nature instead of forest/environment friendly.

With the deforestation going on rampage in the higher reaches of Bhaderwah Forest range many eyebrows are being raised about the working of Forest Protection Force (FPF) in the entire erstwhile Doda district. Another reason for the deforestation in the higher reaches of Bhaderwah Forest range is that these areas lack FPF posts so the trees are being cut down fearlessly. Due to the lack of healthy planning and opening the FPF posts in the required areas Green Gold is vanishing fast.

Though the Village Forest Committees (VFC) had been formed by the Forest Department but these members instead working for protection of green trees are working in contrary and offering their help to encroachers for smoothly carrying operation of forest land encroachments.

Reports said that in Compartments No 34, 35 and 42 which fall in Siraj Forest range and Compartment No- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Chiralla Forest Range of Bhaderwah Forest Division thousands of kanals of forest land have already been encroached upon at many places by the forest land grabbers.

Relevant to mention here that in Chiralla Forest Range there is no office of the department within the area so the officials concerned are seldom available to check the green forest felling and encroachments. The officials who are supposed to perform their duties in the Chiralla area which remains dominated by the anti forest elements, could be easily traced in Bhaderwah instead of being in Chiralla Forest range, thus one can imagine how efficiently the forests wealth would have been protected in the area.

Moreover thousands of kanals of forest land is being encroached year after year, which is used to raise crops at many compartments.

Reports added that large scale green felling and encroachment of forest land have been done in some of the compartments of Marmat range of Forest Division Batote.

Worth mentioning here that Ex-Union Water Resources Minister, Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz in the recent past while addressing a press conference had said that the heavy deforestation was responsible for land slides and sliding of hills in the Doda region along Baglihar Dam.

He had added that the landslides were occurring due to extensive deforestation which makes earth loose its ground and not because of Baglihar dam, Prof. Soz had said.

Relevant to mention here that due to landslides (mainly due to deforestation) early this year people of Doda and Kishtwar districts had remained cut off from rest of the world after a massive landside occurred near Assar, 35 km from the dam.

(FOR PART-1 click : http://ajmeralam.blogspot.com/2009_08_02_archive.html

FOR PART-II click : http://ajmeralam.blogspot.com/2009/08/green-gold-in-danger-jk-govt-in-deep.html)