Madhya Pradesh known for the largest forest cover is all-set to lose its forest cover after the bill for tree plantation promotion law passes.
Madhya Pradesh known for the largest forest cover is all-set to lose its forest cover after the bill for tree plantation promotion law passes.
The bill proposes allowing felling of trees on private forest land and degraded forest of about 10 lakh hectares without any permission from the government!
The law will not only harm the state’s green cover, but will eventually cost habitats of birds and other animals.
How much can this affect the already rising temperatures in state?
As per the records, 10 lakh hectares of forest area is under private ownership and 4 lakh hectares belong to standing forest while 6 lakh hectares belong to the degraded forest.
The state’s total forest cover is 94,689 square km.
What is proposed in the new law?
· Relax the norms for cutting trees on private land
· Motivate plantation for doing timber and minor forest produce business.
· Allow people to transport and do business of timber with private people without obtaining permission of the forest department.
· Remove red-tapism and allow people, especially farmers, to plant trees to generate extra sources of income.
The current law…
As of now, MP has two rules to allow people to cut trees on their private land.
According to the MP Land Revenue Code 1959 section 240 and 241, a farmer needs to obtain the permission of the tehsildar /sub-divisional magistrate before cutting down a tree.
Under the Lok Vaniki Act 2002, farmers need to take permission of divisional forest officer to plant plantations and cut trees on the area of more than 10 hectares of land.
The pragmatic explanation
National Forest Policy states green cover in at least 33% of the Geographical area. Unless there is plantation in the farm fields and revenue lands, there is no other way that the target can be achieved at the National Level.
“It's not only achieving the target, but greening of the space and thereby contributing towards mitigation of climate change shall be the biggest solution that can be provided with people participation,” Mohanta said.
Plant growers to benefit
“Plant growers most lived with a dilemma as to what will happen to the matured trees. Will they be able to harvest? Facilitating them and winning over their confidence right at the plantation stage shall motivate the farmers to go on a big scale.
A lot still depends on how the stakeholders take it along their stride. To me this will be a strong facilitator for promoting plantation, Harvest, Transport and Sale of the produce.”
HS Mohanta
Chief conservator of forest
Indore
An inspection can save young trees
“On a scientific reason, it is understandable that a tree’s capacity to absorb carbon di-oxide reduces as they age. At a certain age, we can scientifically chop them off and instead plant new trees. It is a part of scientific management as well. However, an inspection on the same to ensure that young trees have a chance would be more beneficial.”
Narendra Pandwa
Divisional forest officer
The bill proposes allowing felling of trees on private forest land and degraded forest of about 10 lakh hectares without any permission from the government!
The law will not only harm the state’s green cover, but will eventually cost habitats of birds and other animals.
How much can this affect the already rising temperatures in state?
As per the records, 10 lakh hectares of forest area is under private ownership and 4 lakh hectares belong to standing forest while 6 lakh hectares belong to the degraded forest.
The state’s total forest cover is 94,689 square km.
What is proposed in the new law?
· Relax the norms for cutting trees on private land
· Motivate plantation for doing timber and minor forest produce business.
· Allow people to transport and do business of timber with private people without obtaining permission of the forest department.
· Remove red-tapism and allow people, especially farmers, to plant trees to generate extra sources of income.
The current law…
As of now, MP has two rules to allow people to cut trees on their private land.
According to the MP Land Revenue Code 1959 section 240 and 241, a farmer needs to obtain the permission of the tehsildar /sub-divisional magistrate before cutting down a tree.
Under the Lok Vaniki Act 2002, farmers need to take permission of divisional forest officer to plant plantations and cut trees on the area of more than 10 hectares of land.
The pragmatic explanation
National Forest Policy states green cover in at least 33% of the Geographical area. Unless there is plantation in the farm fields and revenue lands, there is no other way that the target can be achieved at the National Level.
“It's not only achieving the target, but greening of the space and thereby contributing towards mitigation of climate change shall be the biggest solution that can be provided with people participation,” Mohanta said.
Plant growers to benefit
“Plant growers most lived with a dilemma as to what will happen to the matured trees. Will they be able to harvest? Facilitating them and winning over their confidence right at the plantation stage shall motivate the farmers to go on a big scale.
A lot still depends on how the stakeholders take it along their stride. To me this will be a strong facilitator for promoting plantation, Harvest, Transport and Sale of the produce.”
HS Mohanta
Chief conservator of forest
Indore
An inspection can save young trees
“On a scientific reason, it is understandable that a tree’s capacity to absorb carbon di-oxide reduces as they age. At a certain age, we can scientifically chop them off and instead plant new trees. It is a part of scientific management as well. However, an inspection on the same to ensure that young trees have a chance would be more beneficial.”
Narendra Pandwa
Divisional forest officer