Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

SOCIAL IN INDIA: “A STEP FOR BETTER TOMMOROW”

Dr. KhangembamArundas Singh Assistant Professor Department of Economics Y.K. College Wangjing Manipur, India [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Increase in population during the last few decades resulted pressure on the land and natural resources. Social forestry is an approach to meet the need for income, fuel, food, fodder, improve environment, reduce pollution and protect from adverse climatic change. Social forestry is also referred to as community . Social forestry was being practiced in India on small scale in the 1950’s (BRD, 1985). The social forestry program in the country is one of the largest and most innovative experiments in participatory forestry and largest intervention design to improve the productivity and use of communal land.

Keywords: Social forestry, Climatic change, Community , Communal land.

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INTRODUCTION

Widespread loss of and vegetation in India in the past few decades have led to the emergence of social forestry in the country. India is the second largest populated country in the world with nearly fifth in the world population. According to the 2019 version of the world population prospect population stood 1,352,642,280 (UNDESA, 2019). India one of the ten most forest rich countries of the world, accounts for 67% of total forest area of the world (FAO, 2011). The forests are a natural asset of great value, which are renewable, can be productive and useful, forest represent the largest self- generating of all ecosystems. According to State of Forest Report (2017) the forest of our country is 21.54% of the geographical area. The forests are the major supplier of employment to the people of rural India. India is the largest consumer of fuel both in rural and urban areas. Forests are the foremost source of livelihood. However, the growing population and industrialization supply of vital products forests are inadequate to meet the needs resulting in overexploitation and and depleted quickly. As a consequences soil erosion, fuel scarcity, loss of flora and fauna, climate change, wasteland and extent of damage increased in many folds. The economic growth leads on the bases of utilization and exploitation of the natural resources, social forestry is one of them (Lacuna-Richman, 2012). The origin of the concept of social forestry can be traced back to ancient Indian scripture like Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Upanishads,Puranasand preaching of lord Buddha. The Great Emperor of Ashoka is credited to have got planted shady trees and fruit trees along the roadsides for the benefit of the travelers. Social forestry main emphasis are for seeking people’s participation in formulating implementing schemes based on needs. Social forestry has been concieved as the science and art of growing trees and other vegetation on a land available for the purpose in and outside traditional forests area and managing the existing forest with intimate involvement of the people and more or less integrated with other operations resulting in balanced and complementary land use with a view to provide a wide range of goods and services to the individuals as well as the society (Tewari). It has been stated often that these are synonyms referring to any practices based on the perspectives and needs of local populations (Wiersum, 1984). The term “Social Forestry”, was coined by Jack Westoby during his inaugural address at the Ninth Common Wealth Forestry Conference held in New Delhi in 1968.

CONCEPT OF SOCIAL FORESTRY

Social Forestry plays a vital role in national economy. Its potential as foods supplier, fuel , fodder capacity to generate employment and improve national income. The word social forestry, for the first time was used by the forest scientist Westoby, at the 9th Common Wealth Forestry Congress held in 1968 in New Delhi. He defined that “Social Forestry”, is a forestry which aims at producing flow of protection and recreational benefits for the community. “Social Forestry”, also means forestry outside the conventional forests which primarily aims at providing continuous flow of goods and services for the benefit of people, which implies that the production of forest goods for the need of the local people in social forestry. Thus, social forestry aims at

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growing forests of the choice of the local people. In the words of Shah, conceptually social forestry deals with poor people to produce goods such as fuels, fodder etc. to meet the needs of the local community particularly underprivileged section. The term “Social Forestry”, is made up of two words “Social” and “Forestry”, “Social” meaning living together in community. While the term “Forestry”, is related to the theory and practice of raising , their conservation, scientific management and the utilization of the resulting resources (Hedge, N. 1997). The term “Social Forestry”, is used interchangeably with “Farm and ” and “Forestry for Local Community Development”. The term refers to a broad range of or forest related activities undertaken by rural landowners and community groups to provide products for their own use and for generating local income. Social Forestry also include government or any group planting tree on public lands to meet local village needs. In short social forestry is the practice of forestry on community lands with the participation of people in community. Social forestry covers number of social dimensions, its social in the sense that it seeks to achieve local development impacts from resource out, it is socially integrated, it is socially configured or contributes to social change. Social forestry is a program of the people by the people and for the people. Social forestry is a program of for any organization on any land including farm forestry. It is a program to meet the needs of the rural people. Social forestry is the connotation “It is bundle of activities which generate flow of benefits, direct and indirect to the community by utilizing either unutilized or ill utilized land. It is rather a process of socio-economic change with continuous participation of local community at all levels of program implementation. Therefore, initiation of social forestry requires effective tackling of all the interrelated social, economic and political problems prevailing in the rural society (Sen, D, Das, P.K.). Social Forestry has been perceived as a concept, a program and a mission which aims at ensuring and providing ecological economic and social security to the people particularly to the rural masses mere so to the tribal and those downtrodden who live below the poverty line, particularly by involving the beneficiaries right from the primary stage to the harvesting stage but not only as wage earners (Tewari, K.M. 1984). Primary focus of the social forestry is on involving community and individual farmers with trees and on analyzing how people grows trees and use them while they grow. Two ingredients are common in successful social forestry programs: widespread local participation backed by higher level political support and sustainable, productivity increasing technologies that are adaptable to local circumstances and acceptable to the local populations (Gregerson, 2010).

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objectives of the paper is an attempt to analyzeand understand the meaning, objectives and socio-economic dimensions of social forestry, kinds of social forestry, role of social forestry in fostering the level of livelihood of the rural and measures further improvement of the programs.

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METHODOLOGY

The methodology is based on explanatory nature and secondary data collected from relevant books, journals, proceedings, publications, government reports, various research papers and internet.

ROLE AND NEED OF SOCIAL FORESTRY

Social forestry plays a vital role in national economy. Its potential as food supplier, fuel wood, fodder, capacity to generate employment and improve national economy. After independence special emphasis was given to forest department. Social forestry plays an important role in economic development and ecological stability. Growing trees provide numerous services such as environment and ecological stability necessary for human sustenance. Forest is inevitable on earth for well being of mankind. They are not just the green cover we need to make the earth look beautiful, they have many functions integral for our survival and subsistence. They function as a resource for many aspects of human life. Afforestation outside the conventional forest areas for the benefit of rural and urban communities. Forests play an important and complex role in climate change. Deforestation and degradation are major contributors of greenhouse gas emission. Forest can also reduce the level of carbon in the atmosphere as well as increase the resilience of vulnerable communities to climate change. Social forestry works for the empowerment of the millions of people who depends on forestland and resources for their daily needs. It aims to balance economic, environmental and restore forest, conserve biodiversity, improve livelihood, reduce vulnerability to climate change and sequester carbon. Besides afforestation, fodder, vegetables and other agro products become lucrative in the domestic market. Finally, a sustainable economic independence can be achieved by rural masses and may lead to integrated village development by the villagers themselves.

OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL FORESTRY

The following are the major objectives of social forestry.  To meet the fuel, fodder, small timber requirements of the rural people.  To meet the raw materials requirement of household, cottage and small forest-based industries in rural areas.  To provide employment to the rural people by raising in wasteland and creating assets for village panchayats to increase their income.  To protect the farmland against water and wind erosion.  To improve the financial positions of the individuals and community.  Promote eco-restoration, and re-habitation of degraded forest.  To improve the ecology and environment of the area.  Less and avoid use of cow dung as fuel and to make use of it as manure in the farmlands.  Idea of covering the areas under tree cover.  Reducing pollution.  Improve carbon stock in tree cover outside the forests.

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TYPES OF SOCIAL FORESTRY

 Farm Forestry Farm Forestry is the name given to programs which promotes commercial tree growing by farmerson their own land. Farm forestry can be classified into commercial and non-commercial. Non-commercial farm forestry is growing of trees on the field in place of agricultural crops. This involves tree planting on their own land for their own use and not for sale. Commercial farm forestry is where farmers grow trees on commercial basis, usually taken up for sale.  Community Forestry Community Forestry is also called as rural forestry. Under this system, trees are planted on community land and not on individual land, as in the case of farm forestry. It aims to benefit the entire community and not for any individual. The government takes the charge of providing ideas, seedlings, fertilizers etc. while the community takes the responsibility of shielding the trees.  Extension Forestry Extension Forestry is the practice of forestry in areas devoid of trees growth and other vegetation situated in places away from the conventional forest areas with the objective of increasing the area under tree growth. In other words, extension forestry is planting of trees on the edges of the roads, canals and railways, along with planting on wasteland. Its aim is to increase greenery of the country. Mixed forestry is the practice of forestry for raising fodder grass with scattered fodder trees, fruit trees and fuel wood trees on suitable wastelands, panchayat lands and village common lands. Shelterbelts are the trees and shrubs maintained for the purpose of shelter from wind, sun, snow etc. Shelterbelts in wasteland, canal, banks, railway lines on which grass and leaf fodder may be raised on which fruit trees and fuel wood trees may be grown (GOI, 1991). Linear strip are the plantation of fast-growing species on linear strips of land.  Recreation Forestry Recreation Forestry is the practice of forestry with the objective of raising flowering tree and shrubs mainly to serve as recreation forest for the urban and rural population. This kind of forestry is also known as Aesthetic forestry which is defined as the practice of forestry with the objective of developing or maintaining a forest of high scenic value.

 Rehabilitation on Degraded Forests The degraded areas under forests need immediate attention for ecological restoration and for meeting the socio-economic needs of the communities living in and around such areas.

BENEFITS OF SOCIAL FORESTRY

 To increase the supply of fuel wood and fodder.  It generates rural employment.  It maintains the ecological balance.  Appropriate use of wastelands.

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 Promote village and cottage industries.  Induce environment and trees consciousness among people.  Relieve pressures from natural forests.  Stabilize agriculture production.

SOME FORESTS POLICY AND ACTS

The history of can be traced back to 1855. An act called Indian Forest Act was enacted in 1865.  Forest Department was established in 1866.  “Vanmahotsava”, an annual festival of trees was inaugurated in 1950 by K.M. Munshi.  Central Board of Forestry was set up in 1950.  National Forest Policy (NFP) was formulated in 1952 (Agarwal, A.P. 1952).  Forest Conservation Act, 1980.  Revised Forest Policy (RFP), 1982.  The Fuelwood Study Committee, 1982.  National Wasteland Development Board, 1985 (NWDB).  The Revised National Forest Policy, 1988.

Under various schemes of social forestry, to reach the goal of social forestry various programs has been implemented which include Integrated Watershed Development Projects, Western Ghat Development Program, Drought Prone Area Program, Employment Guarantee Schemes, KishanRopwateYojana, Van Mahotsav. After 2001 the social forestry department was given responsibility to implement watershed development projects under “Hariyali”, in some watersheds with the involvement of villagers in planning, implementing and monitoring of the project. The main emphasis of the five-year plans is not only to accelerate the speed of the development of forestry but also to create fresh awareness among the rural poor for popularization of these programs as well as the expansion of the forestry to protect the environment (Singh, B.D.1992).

CONCLUSION

Forest have contributed a lot to the mankind. The increasing population, industrialization, modernization and mindless exploitation of the forest for commercial purpose resulted in loss in the forest products. The ill-effects of deforestation resulted in soil erosion, floods, scarcity, loss of various precious flora and fauna and climate change. In order to stop these ill-effects, afforestation and social forestry programs should be in forefront. Social forestry will help , environmental change, regulate energy crisis. A well implemented and manage social forestry project or program can play an important role in uplifting the life of not only rural but urban life.

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REFERENCES

1. Agarwala, V.P. (1952), The Government of India, Department of Agricultural Resolution No. 13-1/52-5, dated 12-5-1952 pp. 307-311. 2. FAO (2011), Global Forest Resources Assessment (2010), FAO Forestry paper 163. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2011), ISBN 978-98-5-106654-6, page 12-13. 3. GOI (1991) Social Forestry Development in Karnataka: An overview, Annual reports of Forest Depart, GO, Karnataka, India. 4. Gregersen, H.M. (2010), People, Trees and Rural Development the role of social forestry, , 86(10), 22-30. 5. Hedge, N.G. (1997), Tree Based Farming for Sustainable Livelihood. M.D. Publication Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi. 6. Lucaus-Richman, C. (2012) Social Forestry Application in Europe, in growing from seed (pp. 81-88) Sringer, Dordrecht. 7. Sen. D. Purandare, A.P. and Das P.K. Social Forestry in India, (Analysis of various models) – National Institute of Rural Development. Rakendra Nagar, Hyderabad. 8. Singh, B.D. (1992) Social Forestry for Rural Development Annual Publication, New Delhi, pp.10. 9. Tewari, social forestry in India, Nataraj Publishers, Deharadun. 10. Tiwari, K.M. (1984), Social Forestry for Environment Conservation, Silvatika, Northern Forest Rangers College, Dehradun 1983-84 pp. 5-11. 11. UNDESA, (2019), “World population prospects – Population division population.in.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, Retrieved, 9 Nov, 2019. 12. Weirsum, K.F. (1984) Developing strategies for social forestry a conceptual approach, Environment and Policy Institute, East-West centre.

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