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Essay on Social Forestry
Essay # 1. Introduction to Social Forestry:
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The growing requirement of rapidly increasing human population has put tremendous pressure on forest. Clearing of forest for agriculture, encroachment of people, shifting cultivation, unmanaged grazing, forest fires and fuel-wood removal are leading to reduction in forest cover and affecting the sustained supply of raw materials. Taking these factors into consideration, social forestry was implemented. Social forestry is a forestry system which aims to create a flow of protection and recreation to the community.
The word “social forestry” was coined by Westoby at the 9th Commonwealth Forestry Congress during 1968 in Delhi. A large population depends on forest for their daily requirements, such as firewood, fuel wood or small timber. They also meet their energy demands from the traditional forest. This leads to severe depletion of forest causing other environmental problems as well.
In order to solve these problems of rural areas, the concept of social forestry was evolved. As mentioned in National Forest Policy 1988, India should aim at maintaining one third of its total land area under forest. So promotion of the planting on non-forest land through social forestry programme is important to improve the green cover of the country. The proportion to be attained is 60 per cent in the hilly areas and 20 per cent in the plain areas.
Planting of trees under social forestry programme generates employment to the rural poor and improves their livelihood. Planting may be done on government lands or community lands or on private lands. It is easy to implement and is a very good strategy towards reducing poverty and improving the food security.
Conceptually, the difference between traditional forestry and social forestry appear to be so thin, as both provide benefit in one form or the other. While, Westoby differentiated between the two by allotting production function to production forestry and protection as well as recreation function to social forestry.
The National Commission on Agriculture brought the supply of fuel, fodder and small timber to the local populations also under the concept of social forestry. Social forestry has remained a rather broad subject, a statement of purpose rather than an operational model.
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Essay # 2.
Definition of Social Forestry:
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Social forestry is defined as “of the people, by the people and for the people.” It means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands with the purpose of helping in the environmental, social and rural development, as against the traditional objective of securing revenue.
Essay # 3. Scope of Social Forestry:
i. Creation of woodlots in the village common lands, government wastelands and panchayat lands (Estimated at least 12 million ha).
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ii. Planting of trees on the sides of roads, canals and railways. This, along with planting on wastelands is known as ‘extension’ forestry, increasing the boundaries of forests (Estimated at nearly 1 million ha).
iii. Afforestation of degraded government forests in close proximity to villages, which have experienced the unauthorised harvesting of biomass (Estimated at over 10 million ha).
iv. Planting of trees on and around agricultural boundaries and on marginal, private lands, constituting farm forestry, or agroforestry, in combination with agricultural crops (Agricultural land covers about 143 million ha).
Essay # 4. Economic and Environmental Benefits of Social Forestry:
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1. Employment Potential:
It has a great advantage in providing job to local people. The poorest section gets more benefit as the labour component is unskilled or semiskilled which includes works such as nursery works, preparation of beds, sowing, planting, hoeing, watering, etc. Social forestry also provides benefits indirectly by providing raw materials to the cottage industries such as furniture, walking sticks, making sports goods etc.
2. Capital Gain:
Besides providing benefit in the form of employment, plantations through social forestry also help to create economic capital to the rural poor.
3. Increased Production of Food and Fodder:
When a forest is properly maintained, it increases food and fodder production.
4. Cottage Industries:
Social forestry plantations open up a big storage and supply of raw materials for cottage industries which may be used in house-hold goods, house building, sports goods and industrial goods.
5. Forest Industries:
It also provides forest based raw materials such as resin, pulpwood, match industry and minor forest products such as gums, resins, honey, lac, katha, etc.
6. Regulation of Water Cycle:
It acts as an interception which prevents direct hitting of raindrops on the ground. Forests present near the catchment areas helps to maintain the water regime. Trees also traps rain water and prevent floods during rainy season.
7. Carbon Sequestration:
It is an important way of sequestering atmospheric carbon, thereby mitigating greenhouse effect and climate change.
8. Increased Life of Dams and Reservoirs:
Planting of trees through social forestry programme near the catchment areas protects the reservoir from being silted up. Soil erosion is prevented, reducing the flow of silt into the reservoirs.
9. Flood Control:
Both human life and property are damaged by floods. Increased silt in the river causes river to overflow. So planting of trees along the river bed reduce surface runoff and control the rise of river bed.
10. Energy Requirements:
Villagers collect fuel wood from forest for their daily use which results into depletion of forest. Apart from these villagers, even industries also need fuel wood. Thus planting more trees helps to reduce depletion and provides required amount of fuel wood both to villagers as well as industries. It will also reduce pressure on forest and solving the energy problems.
Social Forestry plantations are important to combat the environmental problems as well as meeting the daily needs of the people especially those residing in rural areas or near the forest which are totally dependent on forest. For example, Barodiya Panchayat in Jaipur district collaborated with the Forest Department and decided to plant trees such as Acacia tortilis, Eucalyptus spp and Dalbergia sissoo.
This plantation provides the community with fuel wood, fodder and timber benefits. It also improves the soil moisture and groundwater situation. After the rotation period, trees are harvested and the Forest Department equally divides the benefits with local community. This creates a large benefit to the whole community.
Essay # 5. Mission of Social Forestry:
1. To carry out a need based and time bound programme of afforestation with special emphasis on fuel wood and fodder development on all degraded and denuded lands/forests.
2. Afforestation of abandoned jhum lands and mined areas.
3. Linear strip plantation of fast growing species on sides of public roads, rivers, streams and irrigation canals.
4. Afforestation on unutilized lands under State, corporate, institutional or private ownership.
5. Green belts in urban and industrial areas.
6. Shelter belt (generally more extensive than the wind breaks) for the purpose of shelter from wind and sun covering areas larger than a single farm on a planned pattern.
7. Farm forestry in the form of raising rows of trees on bund or boundaries of fields and individual trees in private agricultural land as well as creation of wind breaks around a farm or orchard by raising one or two lines of trees.
8. Raising flowering trees and shrubs mainly to serve as recreation forests for the urban and rural population.
9. To elicit people’s participation involving women and young people in conservation of forests, wildlife and environment.
10. Environmental awareness generation and celebration of vanamahotsava, environment day, wildlife week etc.
Essay # 6. Objectives of Social Forestry:
Social forestry schemes that have been started all over the country have made a considerable difference in overall forest cover in a short time. Afforestation’s are made outside the conventional forest area for the benefit of rural and urban communities.
The main objectives are:
i. Improves the environment for protecting agriculture from adverse climatic factors.
ii. Increases the supply of wood fuel for domestic use, small timber for rural housing, fodder for livestock and minor forest produce for local industries.
iii. Increases the natural beauty of the landscape and creates recreational forests for the benefit of rural and urban population.
iv. Provides jobs for unskilled workers.
v. Land rehabilitation and increase in forest cover.
vi. Enhances the standard of living and quality of life of the rural and the urban people.
People’s Participation:
Social forestry also aims at raising plantations by the common man so as to meet the growing demand for timber, fuel wood, fodder, etc., thereby reducing the pressure on the traditional forest area. This concept of village forests to meet the needs of the rural people is not new. It has existed through the centuries all over the country but it was now given a new character.
With the introduction of this scheme, the Government formally recognized the local communities’ rights to forest resources, and is now encouraging rural participation in the management of natural resources. Through the social forestry scheme, the government has involved community participation, as part of a drive towards afforestation and rehabilitating the degraded forest and common lands.
Essay # 7. Classification of Social Forestry:
National Commission on Agriculture (1952) has classified social forestry to include three broad classes, viz.:
(1) Farm forestry
(2) Rural forestry
(3) Urban forestry
(1) Farm Forestry:
Farm forestry is defined as the practice of forestry in all its aspects on farm or village lands, generally integrated with other farm operations (BCFT 1953). Presently, the social forestry programmes have been taken up in the form of both commercial and non-commercial farm forestry. Farm Forestry is another name for agroforestry which is a part of social forestry.
i. Commercial Farm Forestry:
Commercial farm forestry is defined as the process under which farmers grow trees on commercial basis on farm lands. It is usually undertaken in areas where there is a ready market of wood or other forest based products. FAO describes this as turning peasants into entrepreneurs and producers.
ii. Non-Commercial Farm Forestry:
Non-commercial farm forestry is defined as increasing the number of trees raised by individual farmers for their own family uses. Individual farmers are being encouraged to plant trees on their own farmland to meet the domestic needs of the family. In many areas, this tradition of growing trees on the farmland already exists. Non-commercial farm forestry is the main thrust of most of the social forestry projects in the country today.
It is not always necessary that the farmer grows trees for fuel wood, but very often they are interested in growing trees without any economic motive. They may want it to provide shade for the agricultural crops as wind shelters and soil conservation or to effectively utilize wasteland.
(2) Rural Forestry (Community Forestry):
Community forestry is defined as raising of trees on public or community land rather than on privately owned lands as in case of farm forestry. The common feature of this programme is to provide benefits or services to the community as a whole. This form of forestry is one of the approaches for tackling the problem of deforestation of village common lands brought about by the local people through mutual cooperation.
The government has the responsibility of providing seedlings, fertilizer but the community has to take responsibility of protecting the trees. Some communities manage the plantations sensibly and in a sustainable manner so that the village continues to benefit. Some others take advantage and sell the timber for a short-term individual profit. Common land being everyone’s land is very easy to exploit.
Over the last 20 years, large-scale planting of Eucalyptus, as a fast growing exotic, has occurred in India, making it a part of the drive to reforest the sub-continent and create an adequate supply of timber for rural communities under the augur of social forestry.
(3) Urban Forestry:
It is the practice of growing trees on non-forest land in urban areas for recreational purposes and aesthetic value.
i. Extension Forestry:
Planting of trees on the sides of roads, canals and railways, along with planting on wastelands is known as extension forestry for increasing the boundaries of forests. Under this programme, there has been creation of wood lots in the village common lands, government wastelands and Panchayat lands. Schemes for afforesting the degraded government forests that are close to villages are being carried out all over the country.
Essay # 8. Social Forestry for Rural Development:
Due to increase in population pressure, demands of firewood in rural areas have led to degradation of forest. Many foresters have been blamed that they are not able to protect and manage forest properly. For example, in North India, canal system was made because of scarcity of water caused by depletion of forest. The presence of small village forest prevents the area from water logging, thus people can grow agricultural crops without facing any problem of soil erosion.
Raising multiple lines of trees along the canals also prevents seepage. Social forestry programme in rural areas play a very vital role in promoting their livelihood apart from other direct and indirect benefits, such as stabilizing the environment which is very badly affected by many pollutions. Social forestry programme therefore not only improves the livelihood of people but is also important from ecological point of view. It also helps in stabilizing the hill slopes of the Himalayas.
Essay # 9. Watershed Management and Social Forestry:
The watershed resources are developed and managed in such a manner to achieve optimum production without disturbing the ecological balance and this is known as watershed management. A good watershed has negligible soil erosion and a good vegetation and sediment-free stream flow except in severe flood peaks.
But with rapid increase in population, demands of fuel wood, fodder, timber is increasing thus leading to a severe destruction of forest resources from the watershed. In arable land, there is severe soil erosion, thus turning the watersheds into wastelands.
Due to anthropogenic activities, soil erosion and sediment discharge leads to scarcity of fuel, grass, water, etc. which ultimately affects the socio-economic conditions of people. For example, Kandi tract of Haryana and Punjab and the rivers of the Chambal basin are badly managed watersheds.
Trees, bushes and grasses are used for soil conservation .With increasing demand for fuel wood, fodder and small timber, the vast area of wasteland have to be fertilized through the social forestry programme. By implementing these programmes, the areas can be adequately protected from soil erosion and damaging effects of floods.
Essay # 10. Role of Banking Sector in Social Forestry:
India is one country which is known for its rich natural resources. But the excessive anthropogenic interference has led to a tremendous pressure on forest which leads to depletion of forest. Deforestation is an activity which is most adverse as it leads to reduction of many productive lands through floods and drought.
This makes the rural people migrate to urban areas which cause the breakdown of rural economy. So it is important to develop the natural resources to stop migration and to create employment in the area. Social forestry is an effective way to offer job opportunities in the rural areas. But the investment in this sector is very low.
NABARD takes up initiative to formulate bankable projects to develop social forestry so that the production may be increased. NABARD provides loan to the local people and they can repay the loans in easy installments. People can start setting up of nurseries and plantation fields to improve their income and livelihood.
But collaboration from both sides is required. When this development bank extends its financial support to rural people, it is essential for them to regenerate and maintain a continuous supply of raw material so as to increase production and to improve the living conditions of the rural people which ultimately leads to improvement in the rural economy as a whole.
Essay # 11. Role of NGOs and Panchayats in Social Forestry:
Some lands are left barren for a long time. These lands, known as marginal lands, may be managed by Forest Department but there are times where management is poor. So NGO’s takes up initiatives in utilizing these lands so as to increase the forest cover as well as maintaining the ecological balance.
Apart from this, rural livelihood is also enhanced. NGOs encourage the community to take part in managing the land and forests. Thus NGOs play a very effective role in extending its lands and improving social forestry programme which helps in development of rural areas and in reducing poverty.
Similarly, a Panchayat or a village council also plays an important role in social forestry. As we know, Panchayat takes the responsibility in upliftment of the village or a particular community. The Panchayat can involve itself in promoting education in the village. Similarly it can also create awareness among the people about the importance of forest, how to manage the forest and what are the species to be planted in order to meet the demands of the rural poor, such as fuel wood, fodder or timber.
So Panchayat has a role to lead the people to make sincere efforts in social forestry development. It is through these Panchayat that people become aware of the social forestry programme which brings them benefits directly and indirectly.
Through these programmes, people set up their small industries in the village provided there is a continuous supply of raw materials. It is through the efforts of Panchayat that social forestry is developed in many rural areas thus reducing poverty, illiteracy and disunity from the villages, thereby improving the livelihood condition of the rural poor.
Essay # 12. Different Social Forestry Schemes Implemented in India:
1. Strip Plantation:
This activity involves planting of trees along roads and railways for aesthetic value as well as shelterbelts and windbreaks. It also helps in controlling dust pollution and noise pollution.
2. Village Woodlot:
This takes place in barren lands. Forest department and Panchayat make a resolution in which Forest department plants trees in the village whereas irrigation is done by the Panchayat. On maturity, 75 per cent of profit is given to concerned Gram Panchayat and 25 per cent is used again for afforestation works in the village.
3. Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands:
Trees are planted on the boundary of the farm. The ownership of trees and benefits lies with the owner.
4. Environmental Plantation:
These are done in schools, government offices, college campuses, etc. Protection work is done by the organizations where plantations have been carried out.
5. Kisan Nursery:
Many marginal farmers and families belonging to below poverty line involve in nursery activity.
6. Van Mohotsava:
In this scheme, people are encouraged to plant trees to increase the forest cover and are motivated to have their own nurseries so that the income of people of lower economic strata is improved.
7. Biogas/Solar Cooker Distribution:
In order to save firewood, beneficiaries are given solar cookers and they are also taught to use biogas. Cattle excreta is kept in a cemented tank and allowed to rot. The gas generated is transported through pipes and is used for cooking. The residue is used as manure in agricultural field.
8. Improved Crematoria:
This saves about 40 per cent firewood in the village.
9. Special Component Plan:
This scheme is mainly for the benefit of Scheduled Caste population in the State. It includes rehabilitation, creation of nursery and distribution of seedlings.
10. Afforestation of Barren Hillocks:
Seedlings are distributed and planted to increase forest cover as well as to conserve the soil.
11. Planting of Fruit Trees on the sides of Public Roads with participation of Farmers and Land Labourers:
Forest department distributes fruit trees. A beneficiary gets 100 per cent benefits from fruit trees and 50 per cent from timber.
12. Different Prize Schemes:
These are awards given by the Central Government.