Source: The post Community forest rights can help green the Western Ghats has been created, based on the article “For renewal of Western Ghats, put people at the centre” published in “Indian Express” on 30th June 2025
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Environment
Context: The article critiques the outdated and misleading data used by the Forest Department (FD) and Forest Survey of India (FSI) in the National Mission for a Green India. It argues for a science-based, nature-centric, and people-oriented approach to greening efforts, especially in ecologically sensitive regions like the Western Ghats.
Flawed Data and Misleading Assessments
- Inaccurate Bamboo Stock Estimates: A field study in Dandeli showed that the Forest Department’s Pre-Investment Survey of Forest Resources (PISFR) overestimated bamboo stocks by ten times. These inflated numbers were used to justify establishing a new paper mill, harming local ecology and livelihoods.
- Lack of Disaggregated Data: Only when data were available at the compartment level could the actual bamboo stock be verified. The general public only gets access to highly aggregated data, such as at the district level, which hides local realities.
- Suppression of Remote Sensing Evidence: In the early 1970s, ISRO’s newly established NRSC used Landsat imagery to estimate forest cover. It found only 15% coverage, while the FD claimed 23%. The government then ordered NRSC to stop, and created FSI as the sole agency, which still provides delayed and vague data.
Failures of the Forest Department
- Bias Against Nature and People: The article calls the FD anti-science, anti-nature, and anti-people. It highlights the 1975 case where basket weaversprotested bamboo depletion due to the paper industry’s overuse.
- Grasim Case and Environmental Harm: In Kerala, the Grasim rayon factory dumped toxic effluents like mercury and lead into the Chaliyar river. The factory was given bamboo at just Re 1/tonne, compared to the market rate of Rs 1,400/tonne, leading to destruction of 10,000 hectares of bamboo in Wayanad. The shift to eucalyptus and acacia plantations with pesticide use worsened the ecological damage.
Need for People-Centric Alternatives
- Pachgaon’s Success: In Maharashtra, the village of Pachgaon, with Community Forest Rights (CFR) over 1,000 hectares, has managed forests well. Income from bamboo sales reduced harmful practices like burning tendu leaves. Villagers also set aside 30 hectares as a sacred grove, supporting biodiversity and carbon capture.
- Improved Livelihood and Dignity: Pachgaon now sees less migration, better livelihood security, and stronger community pride. Forests show healthy growth and improved carbon sequestration.
Way Forward
- Enforce Forest Rights Act Effectively: The article urges proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act and wider recognition of CFRs for forest dwellers living there for generations.
- Democratic Decentralisation is Essential: There must be greater people’s involvement in forest governance. This aligns with the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel’s recommendation for sustainable and democratic greening.
Conclusion
A shift from outdated bureaucratic control to transparent, community-led forest management is vital. Science, local participation, and decentralisation hold the key to restoring the Western Ghats.
Question for practice:
Examine how community forest rights and democratic decentralisation can contribute to sustainable forest management in the Western Ghats.
