Interview: MIAN ALTAF MINISTER FOR FORESTS, ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Interview: MIAN ALTAF MINISTER FOR FORESTS, ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF MIAN ALTAF MINISTER FOR FORESTS, ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

* “Forests in J&K under pressure”
* “JK seeks involvement of expert groups to save Green Gold water bodies”
* “Pollution of water resources, air pollution and deforestation putting unwanted stress on wild flora and fauna”

JAMMU: The forests in Jammu and Kashmir state are under tremendous pressure due to expanding demand of growing population for timber, fuel wood, grazing needs and demand for forest land for ongoing developmental activities. Also forests and wildlife in the state are under pressure due to illegal encroachments, timber theft, smuggling, deforestation, air and water pollution, forest fires, soil erosion, developmental schemes and expanding demand of timber, fuel-wood, fodder etc.

Moreover the latest threat on account of climate change and global warming is also a challenge for future of forests in J&K. Now the Forest Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government has besides seeking involvement of outside agencies/expert groups has realised that expert agencies like National Remote Sensing Agency Hyderabad, ISRO can also play important role in monitoring glacial retreat, extent of decrease of forest cover and status of water level in the water bodies.

In an exclusive interview with Ajmer Alam Wani (AAW) Editor- in-Chief JK MONITOR, Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology Mian Altaf Ahmed (MAA) said that Involvement of outside agencies/expert groups is being sought wherever desirable and the need of expert inputs and modern technology is felt to maximize benefits for the society and where the department lack the requisite expertise in the fields like air and water pollution, conservation of water resources, raising of high tech nurseries, tissue culture techniques, optimum utilization of forest resources, reducing man wildlife conflicts and combating global warming and climate change etc.

He further added that a section of people who want to grab forest lands, earn money by timber smuggling, wildlife poachers, mischievous persons who set forests on fire, who have no respect for forest and wildlife laws come in the category of enemies of forests

AAW: How you define the environment and forests of Jammu and Kashmir State?

MAA: Jammu and Kashmir comprises sub-tropical, temperate and alpine zones with each zone having distinct flora and fauna. Many of the plants and animals are unique to Jammu and Kashmir. The State abounds in natural resources like glaciers, lakes, rivers, mountains and meadows, trees and flowers which attract large number of tourists from all over world.

AAW: How does forest make J&K State different from other states of the country?

MAA: As already said, the State of Jammu and Kashmir has distinct eco-climatic zones supporting cold desert life forms of Ladakh, temperate and alpine vegetation of Kashmir in addition to sub-tropical elements of Jammu. Several wild species of Sheep and Goats are unique to Ladakh highlands. Medicinal plants like Kuth, Kaur, Patees, Kaahzawain having immense medicinal value are found in our State. Hangul the red deer very unique to our State is found in Dachigam and adjoining areas of Kashmir Valley..

AAW: What is the present status and condition of forests in State?

MAA: Forests of the State are under tremendous pressure due to expanding demand of growing population for timber, fuelwood, fodder, other forest produce, and additionally for diversion of forest land for essential developmental activities. However, the department has started several schemes like afforestation, soil and water conservation, campaign against theft and illegal transportation of timber, conservation of unique biodiversity of State including medicinal plants, ecotourism, CAMPA etc. All these initiatives are in close collaboration with local people.

AAW: What type of forests we have & has there been any change in the past 60 yrs?

MAA: We have variety of forests in the State ranging from high altitude cold desert, alpine scrub, montane broad leaved and coniferous forests, and sub-tropical pine and deciduous forest types. Our forests have soft wood timber trees (Deodar, Kail, Fir and Chir) and hardwood timber trees (Shisham, Tun, Khair etc). Alpine meadows abound in rare high altitude medicinal plants like Yogipadshah, Chohre, Kala Zeera, Kuth, Dioscorea, Dhoop, Belladona, Patees, Tethwan, Moori, Langtaang, Kaur, Wan-Wangun, Kaahzawain, Ratanjot etc. The Government has repealed Kuth Act to facilitate and encourage cultivation of medicinal plants outside forest areas.

AAW: How many types of wildlife species we have?

MAA: J&K has rich wildlife including world famous Red deer variety called Hangul (State animal), Cheeru (Tibetan Antelope), Rus (Musk Deer), Killi (Ibex), Karth (Himalayan Tahr), Pijjad (Goral), Paara (Hog deer), Kakkar (Barking deer), Haput (Bear), Tragopan (Daanageer), Monal Pheasant (Lenth, Neel), Black necked crane (State Bird), Mahseer (Fish), Ramgurun, Algaad (Schizothorax spp fish), Kandgurun (Botia fish) apart from several beautiful butterflies and high altitude insect fauna.

AAW: Has any kind of species become extinct from the forests of J&K in the past 60 years?

MAA: I am not aware of extinction of any species in the recent past as no such extinction has been documented/reported. But it is feared that several species have shown drastic decline in their numbers and have entered in threatened category. Critically endangered wildlife includes Hangul, Black necked crane, Himalayan Tahr, Cheeru and Mahseer among others. Critically endangered plants include Belladona (Atropa), Kaahzawain (Arnebia), Kaur (Picrorhiza) etc. Pollution of our water resources and air pollution, and deforestation are putting unwanted stress on wild flora and fauna of the State.

AAW: What type of danger our forests and the wildlife face and what is their present frequency?

MAA: Our Forests and Wildlife are under pressure due to illegal encroachments, timber theft and illegal sale, smuggling, deforestation, air and water pollution, forest fires, soil erosion, developmental schemes and expanding demand of timber, fuel-wood, fodder etc. Latest threat on account of climate change and global warming is also posing a formidable challenge to well-being of forests in J&K.

AAW: Who according to you is main enemy of environment and forests in our State and what steps have government taken or planning to take?

MAA: Some insensitive people who want to grab forest lands, earn money by timber theft and illegal sale, wildlife poachers, mischievous persons who set forests on fire, and all those who have no respect for forest and wildlife laws come in the category of enemies of our forests. The Department has initiated several tough measures to protect forests and wildlife from such unscrupulous elements including booking of habitual offenders under PSA, but lot more still needs to be done. This can be achieved only with the co-operation of people and NGO’s of the State. Forest Protection Force has also been established to control theft and illegal transport of forest produce, and forest department staff in collaboration with their personnel have done commendable work in many notorious areas like Shopian, Pir Panjal, Rafiabad and Bhaderwah in controlling the forest damages.

AAW: Has government involved any outside agency to protect green gold & wildlife?

MAA: Government has initiated several schemes to protect forests and wildlife and has sought the collaboration of outside agencies like FRI, Dehradun; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun; Forest Survey of India, Dehradun and HFRI Shimla etc. Guidance and suggestions from these institutions are sought as and when required for control of diseases, attack of insect pests, and for estimating growing stock of different species.

AAW: What type of research is being done on wildlife and forests at present, if not has government any plans to do so?

MAA: J&K Wildlife Protection Department and State Forest Research Institute have initiated several research activities in the field of Wildlife Biology, Medicinal plant inventorisation, Conservation of rare and threatened species of flora and fauna. Many activities like Biodiversity and Wildlife surveys, man-animal conflict, Eco-tourism and Biodiversity conservation as mandated under Biodiversity Act 2002, nursery of variety of plants, plantation techniques, introduction of new variety of plants in all the regions of the state specially useful in agroforestry for greater benefit to people, are being undertaken regularly.

AAW: How our forests, environment and wildlife can contribute in the development of state?

MAA: Our forests, environment and wildlife form the basic life support system on which livelihood of people and economy of the state depends. A large number of rural people and nomadic communities are directly dependent on forest resources. Several forest based industries depend on forests for their raw material requirements. Without preserving forests, ground water recharge and continuous flow of water in our rivers cannot be ensured. That is why, now it is widely accepted that water is product of forests. Forests have direct correlation with climate change and glacial retreat. Agriculture and horticulture can be sustained only when forests are healthy. Our great Saint Sheikh-Noor-ud-Din Noorani has rightly said… “Ann Posh Teli Yeli Van Posh” importance of which is now being realized by one and all in the State.

AAW: Do you agree with the reports that a large part of forests have disappeared since the partition of the country and can we fill up that vacuum, if so how and what measures have been taken in this regard?

MAA: Yes, area under forests has decreased to some extent over the years owing to various reasons already stated such as developmental schemes like construction of roads and hydro-electric projects etc. undertaken by the Government. Apart from this, expanding population, urbanization, industrialization, agriculture and horticulture have put tremendous pressure on forest lands. The Government initiated Social Forestry Project to undertake large scale afforestation, added to the greening of wastelands and community lands. Recently, Government of India has awarded J&K State with Indira Priyadarshini Vriksh Mitra Award for exemplary afforestation success and increase of forest and tree cover. Diversion of forest land for development projects is now monitored under Forest Conservation Act and Compensatory Afforestation Management Fund Authority (CAMPA).

AAW: Do you feel that involvement of any outside or external agency is necessary for forest conservation?

MAA: Involvement of outside agencies/expert groups is being sought whenever desirable and we feel need of expert inputs and modern technology to maximize benefits for the society and where we lack the requisite expertise in the fields like control of air and water pollution, conservation of water resources, raising of high tech nurseries, tissue culture techniques, optimum utilization of forest resources, reducing man wildlife conflict and combating global warming and climate change etc.

AAW: If we plan self sufficiency of the state, what percentage forests and wildlife separately can contribute?

MAA: J&K State is a hilly state and needs protection of watershed area in the catchments located in the high mountains. Minimum 60% forest cover is desirable for any hilly state but as our large area is under cold desert of Ladakh and precipitous barren mountain slopes, overall green cover need to be enhanced from the present 20% to at least 33% by undertaking rapid afforestation of degraded forests, of all available wastelands and community lands under state sector, district sector and centrally sponsored schemes. Self sufficiency can be ensured only if we conserve our natural resources including forests and follow the principles of sustainable development.

AAW: Despites having strict laws and rules, why government has failed to check illegal felling and cutting of green trees and how much loss our forests suffer each year?

MAA: Disturbed conditions in the recent past have also dealt a serious setback to our efforts in checking illegal felling and cutting of green trees. But now situation has improved a lot. Our department has succeeded in checking illicit cutting of trees and forest encroachments to a great extent and our efforts are continuing. Laws and rules are being enforced more stringently but co-operation of the people of the State is of paramount importance.

AAW: What is the main reason of frequent forest fires and how they can be checked to protect forest fires?

MAA: Forest fires are a major hazard in the sub-tropical deciduous and coniferous forests of Jammu and region Kashmir especially during hot months of the year. The constraint is being felt with regard to, finance as well as lack of manpower. However, our government has given high priority to this and trying to overcome hurdles by using funds from Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management Authority (CAMPA), and under Central Scheme of Intensification of Forest Management where a provision has been made for control of forest fires.

AAW: What are the major projects which are being undertaken by the government in the near future to save the green gold form illegal felling and forest fires?

MAA: In the State we have initiated many steps for afforestation of large areas under State Plan and Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS) such as National Afforestation Programme under which Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) have been established in almost all the Forest Divisions and are being funded by the Government of India to carry out afforestation. Apart from this, we are implementing schemes like River Valley Projects (RVPs) and recently an initiative has been taken by the Forest Department under CAMPA to afforest prioritized vulnerable areas of the State both in Jammu and as well as in Kashmir Region. Recently, the National Medicinal Plants Board has also sanctioned a new scheme for conservation and development of medicinal plants in the State which is being implemented in both regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Illicit timber theft and deforestation are being controlled by the combined efforts of Forest Protection Force and territorial forest staff and also by enrolling local support and effecting more stringent surveillance in the priority areas of Shopian, Budgam and Pir Panjal Forests.