The first week of July each year is observed as Van Mahotsav to encourage massive tree plantation. Since 1950 when KH Munshi was the Union Agriculture Minister, India has been celebrating it with much fanfare.In the post independence period, the Forest Department was not a separate department as it was within the Department of Agriculture. The forest is always considered as foster mother of agriculture. If there would be no forests, there would be no agriculture. Both are complimentary and supplementary to each other.
All the present agricultural species have been brought from forests. Munshi first considered to give due protection to the foster mother for the survival of the present civilization. later, a separate department of forest was created in India to give special attention to the Indian forests and its scientific management. But in foreign countries, especially in Europe, forests were managed under a separate department.
Detrich Brandis, a British forester considered as the father of Indian forestry, gave able guidance to and brought innovations in the Indian forestry. Munshi was a conservationist and was an excellent manager of Indian forests during the British regime in India. He was inspired by Brandis to take up special programmes for forest conservation and growth.
The Van Mahotsav does not mean only to plant trees but to do it methodically. The real meaning of the drive is three-fold: Plant trees, protect trees and preserve forests. Most importantly, planting must be based on suitable planning and locally favourable species. If the soil, climate and other ecological factors do not approve of a particular tree species, it should be avoided. Artificial creation of forests through massive plantations can only compensate the forests lost and help in preservation and conservation of forests.
At present, the whole Indian sub- continent is a victim of climatic irregularities and global warming. There are many factors which aggravate the climatic temper of a geographical region.
Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are mostly influenced by the presence of Eastern- Ghat hill ranges. The crop compositions and the flora and fauna of these States are almost same. Now, the whole Eastern- Ghat region is mostly occupied by mines and industries. The ecological system within this region has been devastated mostly for economic gains. We should remember that the Eastern Ghat hill region is responsible for providing us the monsoon rain, which we get through the southwest wind. For the people of these States, the Eastern Ghat hill ranges are a lifeline.
The hills, the wetlands like Chillika lagoon, Anshupa lake, the river systems, springs, waterfalls, reservoirs, streams, and swamps etc are the creation of nature, which play their role in the normal functioning of the natural forces like cogs in the wheels. If any of these is destroyed, it has an impact on the whole eco-system. Different types of ecosystems are noticed in different physiographic conditions. If the ecosystems are tempered or mismanaged by man for fulfilling his selfish motive, it would prove disastrous. Already, Odisha has witnessed natural disasters in the form of cyclone. Why Odisha alone, the whole world is now vulnerable to various forms of natural disasters like cyclone, earth quake, etc.
The Central Government is now focusing on protection, conservation and development of Western Ghat for sustainable management of ecology of the region and also for the sustainable management of the tourism industry. Further, the Government has also undertaken a clean-Ganga drive. It is very much welcomed. The Government has also decided to carry out avenue plantations in both sides of the 90,000km national highways of India. But the plant species selected for raising along the roadside should have bio- aesthetic values. We have been planting trees under mammoth plantation programmes for long 66 years, but we have not assessed our achievement so far.
The youngsters and the students of educational institutions need to know the utility of plantation. It is very good sign of development of nature and natural resources. Recently, the writer visited the DAV School of Unit 8 and observed how the students as well as the teachers were interested not only in planting of trees but also in growing and preserving the plant species. The whole institution looks like a bio- aesthetic garden, where a few common medicinal plants have also been raised to educate the students.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)