'Leave alone tiger, today people are even saving sparrows'

People from all walks of life will come together today to observe the World Environment Day by talking about a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook about environment. But, more than the frenzied and mere propaganda, some action is needed on the ground for sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of forests for the benefit of current and future generations. With forest and wildlife conservation getting a new meaning amid development vs sustenance debate, AK Joshi, head of the state forest force (HoFF), explains how Maharashtra has shifted its focus to new approaches that involve cross-sectoral coordination and integration of environmental and social concerns into all development processes.

Excerpts.

Q. Why do people and leaders have a negative image about the forest department and consider it as a hurdle in development.
A. Forests and wildlife are bound to be controversial subjects as there is no other public interest area that underlines so strongly the trade off between development and conservation, with formidable stakes weighed against the latter. Conservation of forests and wildlife is not a politically popular concept as matters like grazing and discouraging people from not collecting fire wood are very sympathetic issues related to daily lives of the people. Despite working against all odds, the department is playing its role in economic development. Roughly speaking, per day we have been diverting 10 hectare forest land for various projects, after the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) came into force in 1980. We diverted over 1.05 lakh hectares through 1,732 proposals till now. It is imperative that activities related to forest conservation are not looked upon merely as a mechanical way to meet requirements of FCA.

Q. Forest Rights Act (FRA) is considered as threat to forests. Can you tell us about its success and implications?
A. The FRA has defined a new role for the department vis-à-vis the gram sabha for forest conservation and regeneration. Since its implementation in 2008, of the 3.34 lakh individual claims, 1.04 have been finally accepted and 82,310 titles were issued for over 1.49 lakh acre land till February 2011. Besides, under the community rights, of the 4,062 claims, 814 have been accepted and title were issued in 727 cases involving over 2.50 lakh acre land. Of this, 99% cases pertain to Gadchiroli. In some districts like Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar and Nashik, illicit felling and clearing of forest have been reported. This is despite the fact that as per provisions, people encroaching upon forest land after December 13, 2005, are not qualified. I feel, the FRA should be understood in right spirit.

Q. If huge tracts of forest land has been recognized under FRA, how do you justify to increase the state forest cover to the mandatory 33% under the 1988 National Forest Policy?
A. Recognizing forest rights doesn't mean loss of forest cover. Rights have been granted to cultivate the land. As per the 2009 Forest Survey of India (FSI) report, state's forest cover is 61,939 sq km. The government is serious about increasing the forest cover. A state-level steering committee headed by chief secretary has also been constituted involving all departments. The land revenue code which allows felling in non-forest areas is also being looked into. Increasing forest cover should not be left to the department but all departments need to contribute. There is huge biotic pressure on state forests. Firewood needs to be replaced with biogas and eco-friendly 'chulas' in villages. We also need to rework grazing policy which is in force since 1967. Unproductive cattle needs to be discouraged. All this will surely lead to increase in green cover.

Q. With environment, forests and tigers getting global attention, why does the forest department get less importance in the form of a meagre budget?
A: The funding for the department has been slowly but surely increasing which is reflecting in the state plan outlays. This year, our budget is pegged at Rs 372 crore, which is 0.89% of the plan outlay. Last year, it was Rs 243 crore (0.64%). Apart from this, Rs 89 crore was received in 2010-11 under compensatory afforestation fund management and planning authority (CAMPA). Besides, the state's Rs 1,160 crore money is lying with the Centre, of which 10% can be withdrawn. Thus, we will get about another Rs 100 crore in 2011-12. The allocation under NREGA is expected to go up. For ecotourism, Rs 32 crore has been proposed in 2011-12.

Q. You were PCCF (wildlife) earlier. Have seen any change anywhere?
A. You can't expect any short-term success, but, yes, I see there is huge awareness about wildlife and forest protection. Awareness and a sense of responsibility for protection of wildlife and its habitats are not only growing among officials and field staff but also among people. Media, NGOs, courts, stakeholders etc have played their bit. Amendment to various wildlife and environment laws is also contributing. Earlier, even the death of a tiger went unnoticed. Today people are coming forward to save even sparrows.

Q. Tigers protection vs man-animal conflict. What steps are the department taking?
A. It is true that man-animal conflict is at its peak and 51 lives have been lost in 2010-11 in the state owing to conflict. Of this, 21 deaths were reported from Chandrapur alone. Of the 1,736 villages in Chandrapur district, 839 are surrounded by forests. Like wildlife, villagers also depend on forests for MFP and fuel wood. In such a situation conflict is inherent. There is need to reduce huge biotic pressure on forest to reduce conflict and combined efforts are needed to meet the challenge.

Q. The 2010 estimation of tigers by the NTCA shows increase in state tiger population. How far has the department been successful in sustaining tiger population?
A. Overall, reproduction of tigers and leopard population in the state is a positive indication. Tiger numbers show an increase by 66 as compared to 2006, when there were 103 tigers. Now the reported number is 169. You can't expect any short-term success in wildlife management as you are dealing with a system that is very vulnerable to any kind of damage and yet responds slowly to restorative intervention. However, even as the number game hardly matters, several steps have been taken to save tigers and wildlife. Notifying buffer zones around tiger reserves; declaring Mansingdeo area a sanctuary; tiger conservation foundations for three tiger reserves are some of the progressive steps that we have taken.

Q. What about relocation of villages in protected areas (Pas)?
A. To ensure that (PAs) are made inviolate, relocation of villages is being taken up on priority. Till now we have relocated 34 villages (2,195 families) from 17 PAs. Efforts are now on to relocate 93 villages (12,559 families) with preference to tiger reserves. Recently, three villages - Nagartas, Amona and Barukheda were relocated from Melghat in record time.

Q. Nagpur (Waghpur) has been declared as the 'gateway to tiger capital'. The forest department always talks of boosting ecotourism in the region but results are not so forthcoming. Why?
A. There is tremendous potential for development of ecotourism here not only for domestic tourists but for international visitors too, many of whom come to Central India to have a glimpse of the majestic tiger. However, entire ecotourism development has to be done within the given legal framework and the fact that tourism development is subservient to wildlife conservation and hence no activity is taken up which is non-compatible to the needs of tiger and wildlife conservation. A non-recurring budget of Rs 50 crore and recurring budget of Rs 2 crore has been proposed to boost ecotourism.


Q. What is your message on 'World Environment Day'?
A. Every individual is now better aware about forests. A large area is there outside the forest. For example, in Sindhudurg district, the official forest area is about 10%, whereas forest cover is 50% of the district. Our endeavour should be to conserve forest cover whether it is forest land or not. We should be conscious and think positively as small efforts matter.