India improves forest cover decline

Eco-Development Activities

The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests is implementing a National Afforestation Programme (NAP) for afforestation and eco-restoration of degraded forests and adjoining areas in a participatory mode.

Since the inception of NAP during the 10th five year plan, an area of about 1.8 million ha has been targeted till date by incurring an investment of about rupees 2762 crore.

Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, has stated that in order to improve eco-system services and to gear up afforestation and regeneration of degraded forest tracts, an area of about 10 million ha is envisaged to be tackled under Green India Mission (GIM) during 12th and 13th Five Year Plan period.

The 12th five year plan outlay of NAP has proposed funds to the tune of rupees 10,000 crore against the outlay of rupees 2000 crore during the 11thfive year plan. In addition, the various state governments are also implementing schemes for improvement of degraded forests by utilizing state funds and externally aided projects.

The Forest Report, 2011

As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2011, the Forest and Tree Cover of the country is 23.81% of the geographical area of the country. The forest cover of the country has registered a marginal decline of 0.05% as compared to the previous assessment published in ISFR 2009.

India's Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, stated in Rajya Sabha on 27th March that in the ISFR, the forests are classified into three categories such as Very Dense Forest (VDF), Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) and Open Forests not as degraded forests.

The area covered by Very Dense Forests (VDF) is 83,471 km²(2.54%), that with Moderately Dense Forests (MDF) is 320,736 km²(9.76%) and Open Forests is 287,820 km² (8.75%).

She said forests are defined legally in accordance to the provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1927, such as Reserve Forests, Protected Forests and Village Forests.

The Minister, however, clarified that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has extended the scope of forest and “forest” must be understood according to its dictionary meaning. This description cover all statutorily recognized forests, whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise, including any area recorded as forest in the Government records irrespective of the ownership, for the purpose of Section 2 (i) of the Forest Conservation Act.

In India State of Forest Report, the different categories of forests are defined for assessment of forest cover on the basis of tree canopy density which are as follows:

· Very Dense Forests: All lands with tree canopy density of 70% and above

· Moderately Dense Forests: All lands with tree canopy density between 40% and 70%

· Open Forests: All land with tree canopy density between 10% - 40%

   

Chirp for the sparrow! Tweet for the sparrow!

This year’s World Sparrow Day on 20^th March should not end with the day. Instead, like the year’s theme ‘Chirp for the sparrow! Tweet for the sparrow!’ the event deserves to be carried through the year bustling into activity for conservation of not only sparrows but also any species that deserves attention. 

Sparrows are smaller birds but make a great sight. They are found in 2/3 of world’s landmass and are no less impressive in their segregation into 24 different species. Thanks to the European settlers who transported the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) to different parts of the world.
 

                     A female sparrow (Passer domesticus) carrying food in her beak for her chicks

To anyone of my age the house sparrows shall make a pleasant sight full with nostalgic memories, as it takes us 40-50 years back in time. Then sparrows will descend in large flocks in courtyard, and were found making nests in all places. It was a common sight to find their chicks falling on ground, and we will make desperate efforts to place them back into their nests. 

Their clear sexual differentiation, with papa sporting black beard like feathers reminded us of our disciplinarian father. When in small groups, their chirp was musical and gave feelings of life and company around, and when in large groups that was no less than the bustling human activity in a downtown market.

I am reminded of my great childhood memories when we will wait for hours to catch some sparrows in summer holidays. But will seldom succeed to catch one or two. The only occasion one could easily catch them was probably during their ferocious fight for space for nesting.

I wish all bird watchers, enthusiasts and conservationists on this occasion, as I believe the day is more symbolic of  overall need and practice of conservation. I came to know about the very good work of Mohammad Dilawar who has taken up the conservation awareness about the house sparrow. 

Dilawar has made the following suggestions to overcome the decline in the population of the house sparrows:

•   Restoring gardens and green spaces in the urban landscape 
•  Alterations in modern architecture to provide nesting cavities 
•  Making available appropriate food 
•  Protection against microwave pollution 
•  Reduction in pesticide use 
•  Need for diversifying, instead of mono-cropping

In an open space, in front of my home, I have seen some of these suggestions of Dilawar being translated in the nature, into huge breeding populations of house sparrows. Undisturbed in the thick bushes (with yellow flowers), sparrows are breeding in large numbers, and, chirping all day long, reminding me of their presence and company in close neighbourhood !.