Recently, the Union Ministry of Rural Development recognised the need for sustainable management of forest resources under the National Rural livelihood Mission (NRlM) to promote the livelihoods of tribal forest dwellers, who are basically collectors of Non-Timber Forest Produces (NTFPs) or minor forest produces.
The forest resources are primarily classified as timber and non-timber resources. Till today, neither the State Government nor the Union Government has taken any positive step for sustainable management and progressive harvest of NTFPs.
When recorded forest areas of the State comes to 52,472 sqkm out of the 155,707 sqkm of its geographical area, the total actual forest cover of the State comes to 47,033 sqkm as per the 1999 forest survey of India.
But what is the real productive area of the State in respect of NTFP, the survey is silent. In the meanwhile, a large chunk of forest area of the tribal lands has been grabbed for mining operations.
The Indian economy is running under depression and the value of rupee is falling constantly. This has an adverse effect on the livelihood of the common citizens.
Constant depletion of forest resources has accentuated the suffering of tribals and poor people who are fully dependant on them. The efforts through “National Rual livelihood Missions” of the Ministry of Rural Development can certainly improve the living standards of the rural people if the scheme is implemented honestly. The sustainable harvest of forest produces is always expected through scientific operations of resources capitals. Intensive scientific management of our ecology is certainly required for progressive yields of forest resources, which can promote the life styles of the rural forest dwellers, basically tribals and the downtrodden.
The primary resources like mother trees and plants yielding annual or seasonal herbal returns should be treated as capital. Such capital should not be diluted rather should be developed and protected from any kind of threats like fire, theft, grazing including threats like mining and industrilisation. Environmental pollution puts physical load on the plant bodies, which reduces the productive ability of the plant communities. In the mining areas like Badbil and Kiriburu, the trees are lopped for feeding the cattle, which is detrimental to produce flowers and fruits in species like Sal, Piasal, Asan etc. Barbil, Joda and the neighbouring areas sustain many tribal communities. These communities are generally eking out their bread by working as mining labourers as their lands have been grabbed by the mines. largely, they are landless now.
This mines rich land is also very rich in Sal crops. Ghee and several value added products are produced from Sal seeds. Similarly, the tassar cocoons or the silk cases of the silk worms are found in Asan trees. The tribals are expert in cultivation of Tassar worms.
Besides, several other minor forest produces are also collected by these tribals from the forests. However, sadly, after the destruction the forest patches, tribals have been suffering a lot. There is a need to regenerate the forest in these mineral rich areas not just form the environment point of view, but also from the perspective of protecting the livelihood of the tribals. Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Deogarh and Kalahandi districts are very popular for lac bearing areas. The natural forests in these districts need to be protected.
Constant efforts should be made to promote the livelihoods of people of the tribal lands through proper scientific management of forest resources.
The Government has empowered the villagers and the forest dwellers to collect 69 varieties of NTFPs. However, time schedules for collection of NTFPs should be strictly followed to get the real benefits. If modern technologies are applied, the NTFPs can go through value addition and many economically viable products can be produced. This can give rise to a flourishing cottage industry benefitting not only the primary collectors but all stakeholders.
Proper processing and storage till final disposal of the articles of different NTFP products is quite essential. The quality control measures in each case need to be taken. Recently, the writer had an opportunity to know the field activities of NGOs through a programme organised by the Odisha Rural Marketing and Supply Agency (ORMAS). The efforts of ORMAS to know the details on the trade of NTFPs are praiseworthy.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)