The phenomenon of global warming is likely to only worsen with each passing year. While the effect is global in its origin and manifestation, there can be several local remedies to alleviate part of the problem. One key issue that has been plaguing many parts of India including Odisha and districts like Balangir is the rampant deforestation due to increased activities of mining and construction.
This along with decreasing forest coverage under Mahua has perhaps compounded problems of the local tribals who depend on it for supplementary income.
The forest cover in Balangir is only about 14 per cent which is abysmally low. There is also increasing loss of local wildlife due to such adverse climate conditions, decreasing area under forest. This calls for urgent measures for increasing the forest cover and restoring native species to regain the equilibrium. Districts of western Odisha are also plagued with the problem of seasonal migration.
Keeping in view all these above factors that have made sustenance of small famers and tribals in Balangir a challenge, it is important to identify steps to be taken at local level. One possible solution can be to engage local tribal men and women in the activity of compensatory afforestation and selecting trees like Mahua wherever there is removal of trees for construction purposes. While the men maybe involved in the heavier duties like digging and planting, the women may be assigned jobs like watering and caring for the trees in the first few years of their planting. This would not only provide a plausible solution to develop a source of NTFP in the future for the local tribals but also lend a personal touch to the whole process as it will involve women. let us not forget that one of the biggest forest saving events in the history of the country was the Chipko Andolan spearheaded by women.
Apart from Mahua, the other tree species that are drought tolerant like Bael, Ber, Falsa may also be included that would provide both a source of nutrition as well as income to the local people. The kings of Odisha traditionally had planted fruit trees along the routes along with shade providing trees like banyan which provided not only relief during travel but also fruits like mango. Sadly the reverse activity is being carried out today. While trees were planted on roadsides earlier today trees are being cut for the roads and construction. There is the problem of ever shrinking land for forests due to the population explosion as well.
When any area is demarcated for road construction or highway it would be a good idea to propose a space between the lanes for the trees as well. Encroachment of land beside the highways is rampant in India. To prevent this factor from diminishing the road side tree numbers, it would be wise to include a wider area in between the roads where trees may be planted so they may not be cut in future for any other construction activity.
The problem of a heated climatic condition would not be solved overnight. It needs a long term plan and continuous efforts that involves increasing green cover. Engaging the local people to develop forests beginning with trees of economic importance other than timber may be a first step towards this, using areas of compensatory forestry as the space.
Another important approach would be to sensitize the younger generation, especially school going children about the necessity of continuously creating forest and safeguarding tree canopy for sustenance. The educated and retired personnel who have a standing in the society can take initiative in this direction and act as leaders of such activities for a better organization and implementation which would provide them with some kind of activity to keep busy as well.
Most industrialized nations have been giving increased attention to their forest wealth. Even countries like China have been diverting significant effort towards creation of forests and taking steps to mitigate the effects of global warming in their territories. In this context we have been lagging. The country is on a good economic path and the local MlAs and MPs get adequate funding for development of their constituencies. It is just a matter of taking initiatives by the local people to bring about this change. If such steps are not taken, we may end up having roads to places where people do not reside any longer or no kind of life exists. There will be no place to administrate and no requirement for any political or administrative post. In fact we may cease to exist as a species in places like Balangir due to high temperature and non availability of basic resources like water.
(The write-up is in response to a news item published on April 16 in The Pioneer, dealing with low production of Mahua flowers in Balangir district and its adverse impact on the economic status of the tribals)