Withering wood weakens JK’s wealth

BILAL HUSSAIN

Forests are also main source of timber, fuel, fodder, medicines and other non-timber minor products.

All that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) needs this time is forest governance: decisions made about the management and use of forest lands and resources. These decisions are shaped and influenced by a number of stakeholders both within and beyond the forest sector. Poor forest governance is often characterized by low levels of transparency, accountability, and public participation in decision-making, as well as weak coordination across different sectors and levels of government. What is happening due to poor forest governance is that it contributes to problems such as unplanned forest conversion, conflict over forest resources, illegal logging, and corruption. These underlying governance challenges have remained a persistent obstacle to achieve sustainable and equitable management of forests in J&K.

Engaging government, the private sector, and local forest stakeholders to develop and implement policies and measures that will strengthen forest governance from the local to the national level.

The intangible benefits of forest in supporting human life and vegetation are far more superior to its tangible benefits. In addition to providing oxygen to breathe, clean water to drink, and brilliant colors to enjoy, J&K’s forests provide numerous direct and measurable economic benefits. Especially in Jammu and Kashmir, the three major sectors of tourism, hydro-electricity and agriculture have their genesis in forests.

Jammu and Kashmir has numerous chains of coniferous forests. With the increase in population of both human as well as livestock, the forests are under great pressure due to open grazing, heavy exploitation and excessive biotic dependence. At present, augmentation of natural regeneration, eco-restoration of degraded forests along with increasing their productivity have assumed significant place in the economy.

The state has a total forest cover of 20230 Sq. Kms (20.23 lakh hectares) accounting for 19.95% of the total geographical area of 101387 Sq. Kms on this side of line of control. All India figures indicate a percentage of 24.47% geographical area under forests. Out of the total forest area of 20230 sq. kms, the area under reserved forest is 2551 Sq. Kms., protected forest is 17643 Sq. Kms and the rest 36 Sq. Kms is unclassified.

Out of the total forest area, 12066 Sq. Kms are in Jammu region, followed by Kashmir region with 8128 Sq. Kms and Ladakh region with only 36 Sq. Kms. Kashmir region has 40.17%, Jammu region has 59.64%, while Ladakh region has 0.17% area under forest cover.

Excluding Leh and Kargil districts, forests cover 48 percent of the total geographical area of the state which is more than the all India average of 24.47 percent. It is, however, less than the norm of National Forest Policy, 1988, which provides forest cover of one-third of total geographical area (20% for plains and 66% for hilly areas). Per capita forest area accounts to 0.17 hectares for Jammu and Kashmir as against 0.07 hectares at all India level.

The specie-wise area under forests has remained unchanged during last few years. An area of 1075 Sq. Kms. is under Deodar constituting 5.31% of the total forest area. 1825 Sq. Kms. are under Chir, having 9.02% share, 1969 Sq. Kms. are under Kail which accounts for 9.74%, 3401 Sq. Kms. are under Fir, representing 16.81%. Largest area of 10075 Sq. Kms. falls under other categories having a share of 49.8%. Thus, 18345 Sq. Kms. are under coniferous (soft wood). Non coniferous (hard wood) covers 1885 Sq. Kms. claiming 9.32% of total forest area. An area of 1962 Sq. Kms. is covered by Rakhs and wild life reserves.

To maintain ecological balance, the felling of trees is done on a limited scale. This has caused decline in the out turn of forest produce. The out turn of timber which was 102.48 thousand cubic meters in 2000-01, has declined to 69.70 thousand cubic meters in 2009-10.The value of output under minor forest produce which was INR 2944.52 lakh in 2000-01, has decreased to INR 658.99 lakh in 2009-10.

During the year 2009-10 revenue receipts of Forest Territorial were of the order of INR 3454.74 lakhs. During the current financial year 2010-11, against a target of INR 3420 lakhs (including INR 750 lakhs royalty from SFC) the revenue receipts ending March, 2011 have been INR 4423.26 lakhs.

The policy makers of the state should set a goal for 12th Five Year Plan to expand forestry cover through afforestation and reforestation outside the demarcated forest area and promotion of agro-forestry and tree planting. For this purpose the main approach would be the participation of local people and community by providing livelihoods and income. And the state at earliest should look for formulation of policy framework for implementation of forest governance. Hope to see you in 2013 with deeper analysis of uncovered sectors of the state.