Shiban Khaibri
Volumes can be written to describe the innumerable benefits of the forests to the mankind. The tree gives us every thing we need, right from the life giver oxygen to cover from scorching sun and rains; to food, timber and firewood; to fodder and to the causing of rains. Cluster or groves of trees make forests which form the bedrock of economic and ecological activity. We get from forests, perennial supply of water for drinking and for agricultural purposes; rain water is regulated and preserved including the ground water getting recharged. Trees and forests are central and integral to sustainability of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and the like. Looking to the countless benefits of the trees, recognition and importance to trees have been accorded in the form of even worshipping which has been an ancient Indian practice, prevalent even now in many parts of the country, including in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Our state of Jammu and Kashmir has been known as biomass of the country with a spread forest area of around 20000 Kms. We can vouch for eco tourism as well as natural tourism not only in Kashmir division but in Jammu division in a massive way, only if our policy planners treat forests and their perseverance and development on priority in the interests of the people. Our hydroelectric projects get indirect solid support from our forests. Many of our factories and industries get raw material including herbs of immense medicinal value from forests. Forests are a tourist attraction as well. One of the notable characteristics of forests is their role of being helpful to environmental sequestration. In addition to it, the forests do help in the maintenance of the ecological balance and pollution abatement. Our Jammu city is on the borderline of becoming a city with air pollution and perseverance and maintenance of our existing forests could neutralize the deleterious effects of the air pollution. How can we, then, afford to axe a tree or replace lush green forests with those by the forests of concrete, cement, iron, bricks, and glass etc., all in the name of and under the alibi of materialistic development? Why cannot we see green more than we see around left over dirty polythene bags, heaps of dirt and debris, and dust, choked drains, stinking lanes and streets and the like? Planting and protecting a tree should be our sacred duty.
The sacred Rigved deals with plants which made Vedic Indians know about flower and fruit bearing plants. Trees and forests have been mythologized which has played very important role in shaping world’s mythologies and religions, besides holding cultural significance. Shree Ram made forests as His abode for as many as 14 years. We know about Ashok Vatika of the demon Rawan. We know Shree Krishan’s immense love for trees and rivers and His synonymy with Bamboo trees of which was made His flute, preferring, therefore, to be called Murlidhar and Bansi Lal. Lord Buddha was born under Ashoka tree and attained enlightenment under the Peepal tree , also called Budhi tree or the tree of enlightenment. Lord Mahavir renounced the world under Ashok tree. Banyan tree symbolizes life and fertility. This writer has been fortunate to see the grandeur and the royalty of the largest Banyan tree of the world in the Indian Botanical garden in Howrah, Kolkota. The innumerable medicinal and healing properties of the Neem tree are known to all of us. Are not even now wreaths, red thread, ribbons, rags of different colours tied around the trunks and the branches of some specific trees to win a boon, a favour, a good marital partner etc;? Knowing all this, why are we, the people and our governments, indifferent towards perseverance and protection of our forest wealth?
Developmental processes have resulted in the loss of a large forest area and exploitations beyond the sustainable capacity has led to degradation of the forests’ vegetation and the forests’ soils. This degradation has resulted in the erosion of the soil, flash floods, reduction of forest productivity and silting of reservoirs. Illegal and wanton felling of trees has wrecked havoc with our forest wealth. It is estimated that 50% of the state’s forests have slipped in open and unprotected forests which has resulted in the reduction of the population of the medicinal plants. Unrestricted grazing on continuous basis has also damaged forests and regeneration has been abysmally low. Timber smuggling has been running as a parallel commercial activity by unscrupulous elements especially in Shopian and Pir Panchal ranges of the state and very less as a deterrent or bringing the culprits to justice, has been witnessed. It is shocking that as many as 14360 hectares of forest land has been encroached in our Jammu and Kashmir state , out of which 9500 hectares of land falls in Jammu region while as 4860 hectares of land in Kashmir is in illegal possession. This has been revealed by the state Forest Minister while unveiling new forest policy of the state early last year in which he claimed scientific management of forests, conservation of bio – diversity, rehabilitation of depleted forests etc. As to why has vast chunks of forest land been so liberally allowed to be encroached upon, it has been said that the “encroachment” was “allowed” under “Grow more food” scheme launched years back when people were given any piece of land for farming practices. Now the Government states that it has started the process of reclaiming the land ostensibly because the state has been unable to meet its demand for food grains for which it is dependent on neighbouring states. How much success has the Government achieved in reclaiming the encroached forest land, the government has no data, in fact the results appear to be not satisfactory. The land records of forests are still to be reconciled and rectified with the Revenue department. Forest demarcation and rising of fencing and boundary walls are some of the measures to be envisaged to be undertaken by the state government under the new policy.
Vide this policy , it has been stated that the hitherto very liberal approach of providing forest land for construction and developmental purposes, by the state government is sought to be reversed and that ‘”the forest department would give clearance only in absolutely necessary “cases. We in the city, have the famous Manda forests in which even now constructions are going on and roads constructed and trees are felled which puts question mark on the assertions of the Forest department. This chunk of the depleting forests area, the neutralizer of the pollution of the city to a larger extent, needs to be sustained and preserved and allowed for limited grazing only during winter months.
We need to educate our children in schools and colleges about trees, forests and environment for our survival by incorporating in the syllabus and curriculum, these very important subjects. We need to emulate the tradition in most of the southern states of our country to plant, grow and protect at least one tree in each household say a Peepal, an Ashoka, a mango, a poplar, a willow, a mulberry, and more importantly a Neem tree in respective parts of the state. Let us all , those in the Government and outside working in any area, students, professionals, businessmen, teachers, social activists and all of us to make our forests dark, green and deep so that we could our promises keep for the coming generations to enable them to reap.
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