U4 - Topic 2.2 - Deforestation

Physical Geography (Topic 2.2-Unit 4) 

Deforestation

‘Deforestation’ is the conversion of forest to another land use or the long-term reduction of tree canopy cover below the 10% threshold. Deforestation defined broadly can include not only conversion to non-forest, but also degradation that reduces forest quality – the density and structure of the trees, the ecological services supplied, the biomass of plants and animals, the species diversity and the genetic diversity.

Deforestation includes cutting and felling of trees, removal of forest litter.

Browsing and trampling by livestock, forest fires, also leads to cause deforestation etc.

Deforestation leads to erosion. Deforestation further leads to land degradation, nutrient and the disruption of the delicate soil plant relationship.

Causes of Deforestation

• Expansion of farming land.

• Shifting cultivation.

• Demand for firewood.

• Demand of wood for industry and commercial purposes.

• Urbanization and developmental projects.

• Increase of wildlife tourism.

• Overpopulation and poverty.

• Construction of dam reservoirs.

Consequences of Deforestation

• Soil degradation and erosion.

• Changes in climatic conditions.

• Destruction of natural habitats.

• Destruction of a valuable sink for environmental pollutants.

Remedial Measures

• Intensive development schemes for afforestation should be adopted. High yielding varieties should be planted in suitable areas.

• Latest techniques of seasoning and preservation are necessary to avoid wastage.

• Proper arrangement to save forests from fires and plant diseases can go a long way to solve several problems.

• A thorough inventory of forest resources is necessary to make an accurate assessment of our forest resources and make plans for their proper use.

• Shifting cultivation should be discouraged and tribals depending on this type of cultivation should be provided with alternate sources of livelihood.

• People associated with forest protection should be properly trained.

Government initiatives

• a) Survey and inventorisation of floral and faunal resources are carried out by Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The Forest Survey of India assesses the forest cover to develop an accurate database for planning and monitoring purposes.
• b) Biological Diversity Act 2002 has been enacted and Biological Diversity Rules 2004 have been notified, which aim at conservation of biological resources of the country and regulation of access to these resources to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use.
• c) Industries to obtain “Consent for Establishment” as well as “Consent to Operate” under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 from the concerned State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) prior to carrying out operations.
• d) Environmental Impact Assessment of developmental projects and preparation of Environmental Management Plan as per the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment notification of September, 2006.
• e) Adoption of cleaner technologies and use of improved fuel quality.
• f) Regular monitoring of industrial units for environmental compliance.
• g) In acknowledging this factor, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India issued policy guidelines for the involvement of village communities and voluntary agencies in the regeneration of degraded forest lands on June 1, 1990 under the JFM (joint forest management) programme. Joint Forest Management is a process in which protection and management of forests is jointly undertaken by Forest Department and the local communities.
• h) Sacred groves comprise of patches of forests or natural vegetation – from a few trees to forests of several acres – that are usually dedicated to local folk deities or tree spirits (Vanadevatais). These spaces are protected by local communities because of their religious beliefs and traditional rituals that run through several generations.
• i) The National Mission for a Green India for enhancing quality of forest cover and improving ecosystem services from 4.9 million hectares (mha) of predominantly forest lands, including 1.5 mha of moderately dense forest cover, 3 mha of open forest cover, 0.4 mha of degraded grass lands.
• j) Eco-restoration/afforestation to increase forest cover and eco system services from 1.8 m ha forest/non forest lands, including scrub lands, shifting cultivation areas, abandoned mining areas, ravine lands, mangroves and sea-buckthorn areas.
• k) Enhancing tree cover in 0.2 mha Urban and Peri-Urban areas (including institutional lands)

Other terms related to it

a) Social Forestry

• Social forestry has been defined differently by the different social scientists. In the opinion of some of the experts, the trees planted by the community, individuals, government or the individuals outside the conventional forest areas is known as social forestry.

• Social Forestry has also been defined as the forest by the people; of the people; and for the people.

Objectives

• The main objectives of social forestry are as under:

1. To meet the fuelwood and timber requirements of the fast growing rural population.
2. To provide fodder to livestock and cattle.
3. To provide raw materials for the cottage and household industries, e.g. basket making, bidi- making, manufacturing of cane goods, sports goods, etc.
4. To obtain forest products like, gum, lac, wax, honey, resins, etc.
5. To generate rural employment for the landless workers and marginal farmers.
6. To work as a wind break.
7. To check soil erosion and flood control.
8. To keep the environment in a healthy condition and to improve the resilience characteristics of the ecosystem.
9. To provide the places of recreation for the rural people.

b) Agro Forestry

• Agro forestry is a system of land use in which perennial trees are used as annual agricultural crops to obtain more income.

• Apart from money, agro-forestry provides wood, timber and fodder to the cultivator.

• Agro forestry, however, lowers the underground water table and depletes the natural fertility of the soil Agro-forestry has become quite popular in the Sutlej-Ganga Plain.

Various Forms of Agroforestry

• Agri-silviculture system: Concurrent production of agricultural corps & forest trees.
• Silvipastoral System: Forest based livestock production system where production of wood and rearing of domestic animals are done simultaneously.
• Agro-silvipastoral system: Land is utilized simultaneously for the production of agricultural crops, forest trees and rearing of domestic animals.
• Multipurpose forest tree production system: In this system trees are grown not only for wood but also for leaves, fruits, fodder and other useful by-products, including soil cover crops and intercropping with high value spices in man-made plantations.
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