Lecture-2

Environmental Studies & Disaster Management (NR2104)

[Link]. (Hons.) Forestry, IIIrd Semester
By
Dr. Kaushal Singh

Renewable & non-renewable resources – Forest resources: use & over exploitation, deforestation,
Case studies, timber extraction, mining, Dams & their effect on forest & tribal people, dams benefit
& their problem

Natural Resources
Any material which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more valuable and
useful can be termed as resource. In other words, it is possible to obtain valuable items
from any resources. Resource, therefore, are the means to attain given ends. The aspect
of satisfaction is so important that we consider a thing or substance a resource, as so
long it meets our needs. Life on this planet depends upon a large number of things and
services provided by the nature, which are known as Natural Resources. Thus water,
air, soil, minerals, coal, forests, crops and wild life are all examples of natural resources.
Classification of natural resources
Depending upon availability of natural resources can be divided into two categories
such as (1) renewable and
(2) Non renewable resources.
[Link] resources
Renewable resources are in a way inexhaustible resources. They have the ability to
replenish themselves by means such as recycling, reproduction and
[Link] of renewable resources are sunlight, animals and plants,soil,
water, etc.
2. Non-Renewable Resources
Non renewable resources are the resources that cannot be replenished once used or
perished. Examples of non renewable resources are minerals, fossil fuels, etc.

Resources can also be classified as biotic or abiotic.

a) Biotic resources
These are living resources (e.g. forest, agriculture, fish and wild life) that are able to
reproduce or replace them and to increase.
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b)Abiotic resources
These are non-living resources (e.g. petrol, land, minerals etc.) that are not able to
replace themselves or do so at such a slow rate that they are not useful to consider them
in terms of the human life times.
Problems associated with natural resources
The unequal consumption of natural resources
A major part of natural resources today are consumed in the technologically advanced
or ‘developed’ world, usually termed ‘the west’. The ‘developing nations’ of ‘the east’,
including India and China, also over use many resources because of their greater human
population. However, the consumption of resources per capita (per individual) of the
developed countries is up to 50 times greater than in most developing countries.
Advanced countries produce over 75% of global industrial waste and greenhouse gases.

Planning land use

Land is a major resource, needed for not only for food production and animal
husbandry, but also for industry and growing human settlements. These forms of
intensive land use are frequently extended at the cost of ‘wild lands’, our remaining
forests, grasslands, wetlands and deserts. This demands for a pragmatic policy that
analyses the land allocation for different uses.
The need for sustainable lifestyles
Human standard of living and the health of the ecosystem are indicators of sustainable
use of resources in any country or region. Ironically, both are not in concurrence with
each other. Increasing the level of one, usually leads to degradation of other.
Development policies should be formulated to strike a balance between the two.

Forest Resources
Forest is important renewable resources. Forest vary in composition and diversity and
can contribute substantially to the economic development of any country .Plants along
with trees cover large areas, produce variety of products and provide food for living
organisms, and also important to save the environment.
It is estimated that about 30% of world area is covered by forest whereas 26% by
pastures. Among all continents, Africa has largest forested area (33%) followed by
Latin America (25%), whereas in North America forest cover is only 11%. Asia and
former USSR has 14% area under forest. European countries have only 3% area under
forest cover. India’s Forest Cover accounts for 20.6% of the total geographical area of
the country as of 2005.
Significance of forests
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Forest can provide prosperity of human being and to the nations. Important uses of
forest can be classified as under
Commercial values
 Ecological significance
 Aesthetic values
 Life and economy of tribal
Commercial values
 Forests are main source of many commercial products such as wood, timber,
pulpwood etc. About 1.5 billion people depend upon fuel wood as an energy
source. Timber obtained from the forest can used to make plywood, board, doors
and windows, furniture, and agriculture implements and sports goods. Timber is
also a raw material for preparation of paper, rayon and film.
 Forest can provide food , fibre, edible oils and drugs.
 Forest lands are also used for agriculture and grazing.
 Forest is important source of development of dams, recreation and mining.
Life and economy of tribal
Forest provide food, medicine and other products needed for tribal people and play a
vital role in the life and economy of tribes living in the forest.

Ecological uses
Forests are habitat to all wild animals, plants and support millions of species. They help
in reducing global warming caused by green house gases and produces oxygen upon
photosynthesis.
Forest can act as pollution purifier by absorbing toxic gases. Forest not only helps in
soil conservation but also helps to regulate the hydrological cycle.

Aesthetic values
All over the world people appreciate the beauty and tranquillity of the forest because
forests have a greatest aesthetic value. Forest provides opportunity for recreation and
ecosystem research.
Over exploitation of forests
Forests contribute substantially to the national economy. With increasing population
increased demand of fuel wood, expansion of area under urban development and
industries has lead to over exploitation of forest .At present international level we are
losing forest at the rate of 1.7 crore hectares annually. Overexploitation also occurs due
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to overgrazing and conversion of forest to pastures for domestic use.

Deforestation

1. Forest are burned or cut for clearing of land for agriculture ,harvesting for wood
and timber , development and expansion of cities .These economic gains are
short term where as long term effects of deforestation are irreversible
2. Deforestation rate is relatively low in temperate countries than in tropics If
present rate of deforestation continues we may losses 90% tropical forest in
coming six decades
3. For ecological balance 33% area should be under forest cover but our nation has
only 20.6% forest cover.
Causes of deforestation
Forest area in some developed area has expanded. However in developing countries
area under forest is showing declining trend particularly in tropical region. Main causes
of deforestation are
a) Shifting cultivation or jhum cultivation
This practise is prevalent in tribal areas where forest lands are cleared to grow
subsistence crops. It is estimated that principle cause of deforestation in tropics in
Africa, Asia and tropical America is estimated to be 70, 50, and 35% respectively.
Shifting cultivation which is a practice of slash and burn agriculture are posses to clear
more than 5 lakh hectares of land annually. In India, shifting cultivation is prevalent in
northeast and to limited extent in M.P, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and is contributing
significantly to deforestation.
b) Commercial logging
It is a important deforestation agent. It may not be the primary cause but definitely it
acts as secondary cause, because new logging lots permits shifting cultivation and fuel
wood gatherers access to new logged areas.
c) Need for fuel wood
Increased population has lead to increasing demand for fuel wood which is also acting
as an important deforestation agent, particularly in dry forest.
d) Expansion for agribusiness
With the addition of cash crops such as oil palm, rubber, fruits and ornamental plants,
there is stress to expand the area for agribusiness products which results in
deforestation.
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e) Development projects and growing need for food

The growing demand for electricity, irrigation, construction, mining, etc. has lead to
destruction of forest. Increased population needs more food which has compelled for
increasing area under agriculture crops compelling for deforestation.

f) Raw materials for industrial use

Forest provides raw material for industry and it has exerted tremendous pressure on
forest. Increasing demand for plywood for backing has exerted pressure on cutting of
other species such as fir to be used as backing material for apple in J&K and tea in
northeast states.
Major effects of deforestation
Deforestation adversely and directly affects and damages the environment and living
beings .Major causes of deforestation are
 Soil erosion and loss of soil fertility
 Decrease of rain fall due to affect of hydrological cycle

 Expansion of deserts
 Climate change and depletion of water table
 Loss of biodiversity ,flora and fauna
 Environmental changes and disturbance in forest ecosystems

Case studies

1. Jhum cultivation
Jhum Agriculture or shifting agriculture has destroyed large number of hectare of forest
tracts in North-Eastern states and Orissa. Jhum agriculture is subsidence agriculture in
which tract of forest land is cleared by cutting trees and it is used for cultivation. After
few years, when productivity of the land decreases, cultivators abandon the land and
clear next tract. As a result of this practise, combined with increasing population there
is rapid deforestation as more and more cultivators clear forest to cultivate land. Also,
with increase in population there is cultivators are forced to return to previous tracts of
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land in relatively shorter durations, not allowing the land to regain its productivity.

2. Chipko movement
The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a social-ecological movement that
practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through the
act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled. The modern Chipko movement
started in the early 1970s in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand,with growing
awareness towards rapid deforestation. The landmark event in this struggle took place
on March 26, 1974, when a group of peasant women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in
Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, acted to prevent the cutting of trees and reclaim
their traditional forest rights that were threatened by the contractor system of the state
Forest Department. Their actions inspired hundreds of such actions at the grassroots
level throughout the region. By the 1980s the movement had spread throughout India
and led to formulation of people-sensitive forest policies, which put a stop to the open
felling of trees in regions as far reaching as Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.

3. Western himalayan region.

Over the last decade, there has been widespread destruction and degradation of forest
resources in Himalayas, especially western Himalayas. This has resulted in various
problems such as erosion of top soil, irregular rainfall, changing weather patterns and
floods. Construction of roads on hilly slopes, have not only undermined their stability,
but also damaged protective vegetation and forest cover. Tribes in these areas are
increasingly facing shortage of firewood and timber, due large scale tree cutting.
Increased traffic volumes on these roads leads to increased pollution in the area.

Timber extraction

There has been unlimited exploitation of timber for commercial use. Due to increased
industrial demand; timber extraction has significant effect on forest and tribal people.

Logging

 Poor logging results in degraded forest and may lead to soil erosion especially
on slopes.
 New logging roads permit shifting cultivators and fuel wood gatherers to gain
access to the logging area.
 Loss of long term forest productivity
 Species of plants and animals may be eliminated
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 Exploitation of tribal people by contractor.

Mining
Major effects of mining operations on forest and tribal people are:

Mining from shallow deposits is done by surface mining while that from deep deposits
is done by sub-surface mining. It leads to degradation of lands and loss of top soil. It is
estimated that about eighty thousands hectare land is under stress of mining activities
in India
 Mining leads to drying up perennial sources of water sources like spring and
streams in mountainous area.
 Mining and other associated activities remove vegetation along with underlying
soil mantle, which results in destruction of topography and landscape in the area.
Large scale deforestation has been reported in Mussorie and Dehradun valley
due to indiscriminating mining.
 The forested area has declined at an average rate of 33% and the increase in non-
forest area due to mining activities has resulted in relatively unstable zones
leading to landslides.
 Indiscriminate mining in forests of Goa since 1961 has destroyed more than
50000 ha of forest land. Coal mining in Jharia, Raniganj and Singrauli areas has
caused extensive deforestation in Jharkhand.
 Mining of magnetite and soapstone have destroyed 14 ha of forest in hilly slopes
of Khirakot, Kosi valley and Almora.
 Mining of radioactive minerals in Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka are posing
similar threats of deforestation.
 The rich forests of Western Ghats are also facing the same threat due to mining
projects for excavation of copper, chromites, bauxite and magnetite.
Effects of dams on forests and tribal people
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru referred dam and valley projects as “Temples of modern
India”. These big dams and rivers valley projects have multi-purpose uses. However,
these dams are also responsible for the destruction of forests. They are responsible for
degradation of catchment areas, loss of flora and fauna, increase of water borne
diseases, disturbance in forest ecosystems, rehabilitation and resettlement of tribal
peoples.
India has more than 1550 large dams, the maximum being in the state of Maharashtra
(more than 600), followed by Gujarat (more than 250) and Madhya Pradesh (130).
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 The highest one is Tehri dam, on river Bhagirathi in Uttaranchal and the largest
in terms of capacity is Bhakra dam on river Satluj in Himachal Pradesh. Big dams
have been in sharp focus of various environmental groups all over the world,
which is mainly because of several ecological problems including deforestation
and socio-economic problems related to tribal or native people associated with
them.
 The Silent valley hydroelectric project was one of the first such projects situated
in the tropical rain forest area of Western Ghats which attracted much concern
of the people.
 The crusade against the ecological damage and deforestation caused due to Tehri
dam was led by Shri. Sunder Lal Bahaguna, the leader of Chipko Movement.
 The cause of Sardar Sarovar Dam related issues have been taken up by the
environmental activitist Medha Patkar, joined by Arundhati Ray and Baba Amte.
For building big dams, large scale devastation of forests takes place which breaks
the natural ecological balance of the region.
 Floods, droughts and landslides become more prevalent in such areas. Forests
are the repositories of invaluable gifts of nature in the form of biodiversity and
by destroying them (particularly, the tropical rain forests), we are going to lose
these species even before knowing them. These species could be having
marvellous economic or medicinal value and deforestation results in loss of this
storehouse of species which have evolved over millions of years in a single
stroke.
Forest conservation and management
Forest is one of the most valuable resources and thus needs to be conserved. To conserve
forest, following steps should be taken.
1. Conservation of forest is a national problem, thus it should be tackled with
perfect coordination between concerned government departments.
2. People should be made aware of importance of forest and involved in forest
conservation activities.
3. The cutting of trees in the forests for timber should be stopped.
4. A forestation programmes should be launched
5. Grasslands should be regenerated.
6. Forest conservation Act should be strictly implemented to check deforestation.
7. Awards should be instituted for the deserving.
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