Assessing Forest Resilience Amidst the Challenges of Climate Change

The absence of a clear-cut definition has, till date, resulted in considerable variation in the extent of forests in India from time to time. The word ‘forest’ has been interpreted in a different way and the pendulum has vacillated between ‘natural forest’ to ‘tree plantations’, the latter resulting from tree planting in lands devoid of natural forests as well as from the substitution of “natural” forests by exotic species. Data on the extent of forest arrived at after extensive field surveys, aerial photography, and satellite imageries (each one having its limitations), nonetheless, indicate that absence of a clear definition of forest has created confusion and inconsistencies in ascertaining the authentic extent of forest, in particular, natural forest, that were bequeathed to us at the time of independence. Moreover, two categories viz., unclassed forests and scrub land need better clarity, understanding and truthful assessment. As far as the state of forests is concerned, the five-year plan documents recognized the fact that deforestation, diversion and excessive felling were primarily responsible for degradation of forests and supported the forest policy resolution of 1952 which endorsed 60% forest cover in the hills and 20% in the plains. Four distinct phases of deforestation including extensive conversion of forestlands to plantations in the late nineteenth century, the “grow more food” campaign of the mid 1940s, human colonization during the 1950s and 1960s and infrastructure development after independence have resulted in irreversible damage to India’s natural forests. One of the major considerations for diverting the forest land for non-forestry purpose was economic gains to the society through development. However, recent data indicates that except Maharashtra, most of the states including MP and Chhattisgarh have miserably failed in improving their economy. History of overexploitation, increasing human population, diversion for agriculture and other purposes means less forest area per capita. Currently, most of the biotic pressure is borne by poor productivity tropical dry and tropical moist deciduous forests which constitute two third of the natural forests. It’s time we reassess the status of natural forests and take corrective action.