The aim to green Odisha is a movement to make the State ecologically sound to meet the climate change hazards. But it seems the movement has failed thanks to nexus of unscrupulous officials, politicians and certain members of civil society.
Greening India means a flourishing India with protection of environment and ecology. However, the failure to protect environment invites not just climatic but economic hazards in the country. The objectives of the National Forest Policy 1988 are not scrupulously followed.
The environmental stability of Odisha is at a stake due to various commercial and biotic factors, but steps are not sufficient to restore the ecological balance of the State. The ecological balance can only be restored through preservation of ecological systems. The indigenous species suitable to the ecosystems should be planted at a large scale. But, sadly this is not carried out.
The huge money from different sources for development of forests and their protection is gulped by unscrupulous Government employees. Very recently, certain Government employees assigned with very responsible tasks for restoration of ecological systems were booked for irregularities and amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income. A Government servant whose conduct at every moment is under scrutiny, how such things take place is an important question. There are several administrative tiers to ensure probity. If the honesty and loyalty are missing, no good work is ever possible.
Conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests with the vast variety of flora and fauna, which represent the remarkable biological diversity and genetic resources of the country, is another objective of the forest policy. It is the prime duty and responsibility of State Forest Department to conserve the natural heritage by preserving the remaining natural forests with vast varieties of diversities of floral and faunal reserves of the country, which represent genetic resources of the country from all kinds of biotic destructions and interferences. The biotic interferences are grazing of cattle, collection of woods and other requirements and over use of genetic resources of the country. This also includes annual fire incidences, shifting cultivations, illegal mining operations, encroachments of forest lands for various reasons by land grabbers, poaching of wild animals, birds and reptiles etc. Besides, pollution of streams and water bodies, rookeries and nesting grounds etc also is human interference. Conservation means the “in-situ” conservation of ecological diversities.
As it is observed, the boundary lines of each forest block are not maintained annually, including the inter-State boundary lines and fire lines for preventing encroachments of forest lands and annual fire during fire seasons. Due to inefficient forest management by the State Forest Department, climate changes occur. The mangrove bio-diversities of estuarine biosphere are not scientifically managed and conserved, which invite tornadoes and cyclones in the coastal regions within short intervals.
One third of the land area of the country should be under forest cover. Estuarine forests, mangrove land and sand bars should be preserved. All river mouths which are a hub of rich marine biodiversities and a point of attraction for the Olive Ridley sea-turtles should also be preserved. The river mouths as well as the all sand bars should be protected for rookeries and providing safe grounds for habitat of many marine animals and large scale microbiological activities.
Checking soil erosion and denudation in catchment areas of rivers lakes, reservoirs in the interest of soil and water conservation for mitigating floods and droughts and for retardation of siltation of reservoirs is also an urgent need. These are most vital activities of conservation to save the catchment areas of each and every river system and water harvesting natural process. If the catchment area of any river system is subjected to soil erosion and denudation due to loss of vegetations, the diversities of flora and fauna are lost and the whole process will lead to desertification. The northern tropical moist forests of sal and other associated species are a predominant feature of the State’s ecological system, where ever-green and semi ever- green species are commonly noticed. The orchids are the indicators of healthiness of the forest. In general, there is no health forest now in our State due to constant biotic interferences in the eco systems. So the State is very vulnerable to disastrous situations like flood and drought and oither natural calamities.
All the reservoirs of hydro-electrical projects and irrigation projects are now silted up due to our mal-handling of nature’s eco-systems.
Checking the extension of sand dunes in the desert areas is another prime need. In Odisha the costal sand dunes pose constant threats to the civic areas like Puri-Konark, Chandipur, Digha, Gopalpur Rushikulya etc. In these areas, very selective plant species are noticed. The sand dunes are the breeding grounds of Olive Ridely sea-turtles and various rodents and burrowing animals. The natural eco-systems of the brine sand deposits should be protected and eco-scientifically maintained.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)