March 2013

 The Green Agenda

Forest is a unique, natural and renewable resource which is important not only for ecological stability but also in providing livelihood support to a sizable tribal and other forest dependent population. The role of forests in maintaining environmental stability and ecological restoration besides meeting material requirements such as wood and non wood forest products has been well understood by society since ages. However, in recent years, the interest in forests has grown further due to awareness of their role in the global carbon cycle. Unfortunately, despite awareness, forests in the world and India have suffered serious depletion over the years because of misuse. Today, forests are at the core of controversies that are driven by the push for industrial expansion in India.

At a time, when the future of forests is a matter of environmental concern, OIOP’s March 2013 issue, looks at the factors that are contributing to the depletion of forests and the immediate steps that need to be taken to increase forest cover.

In the lead article ‘An umbrella over our forests,’ Dr. Devendra Pandey hopes that with strong policies and legislations, India can effectively control destruction of forest cover. Dr. Pandey is a retired IFS officer and has worked as DG, Forest Survey of India for a long time and also assisted FAO on Global Forest Resource Assessment on many occasions.

In ‘Destruction unlimited,’ Dr. M. A. Haque, Director-Scientific (retd.) in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi, while elaborating on the vast usage of forests, warns that if corrective action against deforestation is not taken soon, our survival too would be a matter of concern.

In ‘Forests, people and their hopes,’ Ajay Dandekar, professor in Central University, Gujarat, states that even while, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is passed in all earnestness the issue of community rights remains as a stalemate on ground. The road ahead is uncertain.

Arun K. Bansal, IFS (retd.), 1975 Odisha Cadre, in ‘Forest Conservation Act – application and implications,’ analyses the Act and its role in mitigating forest destruction.

In ‘Tussle for profits, power and control,’ Kanchi Kohli, an independent researcher and writer, says that it is time we bring back the fundamentals of envisioning forests as non-utilitarian spaces into the core of the environment, human rights and industrial expansion debate.

In ‘Renewing our ecosystems,’ Bittu Sahgal opines that by ensuring that local communities become the prime beneficiaries of ecosystem renewal we would also be solving, to a very large extent, that ancient problem that plagues humanity… man-nature conflict. The writer is the Editor of Sanctuary magazine. His work today revolves around saving the tigers and the forests of India.

In ‘Impact of climate change,’ Dr. N. H. Ravindranath and Dr. R. K. Chaturvedi, say that forest planning and development programmes and policies may have to be altered to address the likely impacts of climate change;and appropriate adaptive measures need to be taken to minimise the adverse impact. Dr. Ravindranath is a Professor at the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Dr. Chaturvedi is a National Environmental Sciences Fellow, at the Centre.

In ‘Barren to green - Kalpavalli shows the way,’ Disha Shetty, who is pursuing post graduate diploma in television journalism, features Kalpavalli,  once a barren stretch of land in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh which has turned into a green haven providing livelihood to the poor farmers living in the vicinity. The forest regeneration was possible thanks to the community initiative of an NGO, Timbaktu founded by social worker C. K. Ganguly and his wife Mary.

In ‘Know India Better,’ we feature the pink city of Jaipur, fascinating with a rich history, splendid forts and amazing architecture and a unique culture. Md. Masarrath Ali Khan, freelance travel writer, profiles the city’s famous forts while rummaging through its history and also joins the local folk in celebrating some unique festivals such as Teej, the Elephant festival and the literary festival.

 

In ‘Face to Face’, Disha Shetty speaks to C. K. Ganguly who transformed one of India’s most drought prone areas, Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh into an Oasis. What started as a restoration of land of 32 acres bought in 1990 is today a collective, carrying out developmental work in 150 villages. It was the vision and hard work of C.K. Ganguly or Bablu, as he is fondly known and his wife Mary that helped transform the dry, parched land into a thriving ecosystem.

March 8 is observed as International Women’s Day. On this occasion, Shoma A. Chatterji, freelance journalist, film scholar and author, analyses the invisible violence against women.

In ‘Youth Voice,’ Vivan Gandhi, 4th year law student at Pravin Gandhi College of Law, Mumbai, pens his thoughts on the increasing attacks on women

.

In ‘Great Indians’ we feature:

Mahavir Tyagi, Freedom fighter and parliamentarian (1899-1980); 

Havildar Lachhiman Gurung VC, the spirited soldier  (1917-2010); 

Major General D K Palit VrC,  Outstanding intellect (1919-2008).

And also read our regular columns and other features. To book a copy, email to oiopfoundation@gmai.com / oiop@vsnl.net or call Nagesh Bangera, OIOP Subscription-in-charge at 022- 2353 44 00.

We look forward to your feedback.