DOCSLIB.ORG

Indian Forests

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Indian Forests Forest, Categories, Types, Functions and Institutional Framework for protection Rahul Kumar IFS PCCF (HOFF) Introduction • The word forest is derived from a Latin word“ Foris” means Outside • Forests are one of the most important natural resources of the earth. • Approximately 1/3rd of the earth’s total area is covered by forests • Forests vary a great deal in composition and density and are distinct from meadows and pastures. • Forests are important to humans and the biodiversity. For humans, they have many aesthetics, recreational, economic, historical, cultural and religious values. • Forests provide fuelwood, timber, fodder, wildlife, habitat, industrial forest products, climate, medicinal plants etc. Forest Cover of India • As per the State of forest report 2013, forest cover of country is 6,97,898 sq.km (69.79 million hectare) • This is 21.23% of the total geographical area of the country. • The tree cover of the country is estimated to be 9.13 million hectare which is 2.78% of the total geographical area. • The total forest and tree cover of the country as per 2013 assessment is 78.92 million hectare, which is 24.01% of the total geographical area of the country. • There is an increase of 5871 sq.km in the forest cover of the country in comparison to 2011 assessment. Source-India State of Forest Report 2013 FOREST COVER IN INDIA Years FOREST COVER % F. cover sq km Growing stock Million m. cum 2005 23.41 769,621 4602.30 2009 21.02 690,899 4498.66 2011 21.05 691,969 6047.158 2013 24.01 789,164 5658.046 77.51% 1.26% 9.70% 8.99% 2.54% 21.23% An Overview of Forest Area in Rajasthan • Total Geographical Area of the State : 342239 sq.km • Total Forest Cover of the State : 16086 sq.km • Tree Cover : 7860 sq.km • Total Forest & Tree Cover : 23946 sq.km • Per capita forest & Tree Cover : 0.035 Hectare • Of State’s Geographical Area : 7.00 % • Of India’s Forest &Tree Cover : 3.03 % • Very Dense Forest : 72 sq.km • Moderately Dense Forest : 4424 sq.km. • Open Forest : 11590 sq.km • Recorded Forest Area:- – Reserved Forest : 12475 sq.km – Protected Forest : 18217 sq.km – Un-classed Forest : 2045 sq.km Total : 9.57 % Source: India State of Forest Report, 2013 Physiographic Zones Land Use types Total Geographical area 3287263 sq km Arable land 51 % Forest Cover Distribution in India 10 to 40 % canopy density Source: Environmental Information system, Database WII India Area FSI, 2009 Growing stock in India State of forests, FSI 2009 g4g4gg545g By: erjveruivbevb Protected areas in India, 2011 Trends in PA,s India Up to 2016, Proposals: 75 NPs & 219 WL S Source: Environmental Information system, Database WII India Protective Functions • Forest Provide protection against Soil erosion, Droughts, floods, noise, radiations Soil erosion Soil erosion Floods Droughts Productive Functions • Forest Provide various products like, gum resins, medicines, Katha, honey, pulp, bamboo, timber, and fruits Regulative Functions • The Forest regulates the level of Oxygen and carbon dioxide in atmosphere. The forests also help in regulating temperature conditions Accessory Function • Forest provides aesthetics, habitat to various flora and fauna besides that it also has an recreational value. Ecological Importance or uses of Forests • Regulation of global climate and temperature • Forests play a crucial role in regulation of global climate and temperature as forest cover absorb the solar radiations that would otherwise be reflected back into the atmosphere by bare surface of the earth. • Transpiration of plants increases the atmosphere humidity which affects the rainfall, cools the atmosphere and thus regulate the hydrological cycle Reduction of Global Warming • The main green house gas co2 is used by forests for photosynthesis process, the forests act as a sink for co2 there by reducing the green house effect due to co2 Production of Oxygen • During Photosynthesis process forest releases oxygen a very important gas for human survival thereby are called as lungs of earth. Conservation of Soil • They prevent soil erosion by binding the soil particles tightly in their roots. They also reduce the velocity of wind and rain which are chief agents causing erosion Absorption of air pollutants • Forest absorbs many toxic gases and air pollutants and can help in keeping air pure. Economical Importance of Forests • Timber: Wood used for commercial purposes like for making furniture and other items like boats, bridges and other day to day uses. • Fuel Wood: The wood is used as fuel for cooking and other purposes by poor people. • Raw material for wood based industries: forests provide raw material for various wood based industries like paper and pulp, sports goods, furniture, match boxes etc. • Food: Fruits, roots, leaves of plants and trees along with the meat of forest animals provide the food to the tribal people. • Miscellaneous Products: Miscellaneous products like, resin, gums, oils, medicines, Katha, honey are provided by forests Tropical wet evergreen and semi evergreen forests • found in Southern Western Ghats, north-eastern India and Plains of West Bengal rainfall exceeding 200cms. • Height of trees is from 45- 60mts. • Vegetation is very dense. • Variety of species is very large consists of rose wood, paan, aini, telsur. Tropical moist deciduous forests • Found in Western ghats and ChotaNagpur plateau and Siwaliks of Himalayas. • These forests have hilly terrains and plateau regions with rainfall between 100- 200cms. • These are tropical monsoon forests with tall trees which rise upto 25-60mts. • Teak is a dominant species and other species are sandal wood, sal and shisham Tropical dry deciduous forests • occupy the large part of peninsular plateau, Ganga plain and area between the Thar, the Himalayas and the Western Ghats. • They cover vast areas of plateau and plain areas with rainfall between 70-100cms. • This type of forest is found with open formations and the important species are teak, bamboo, sal and khair. Forest Area- Udaipur Distt. RARE PLANT OF DRY DECIDUOUS FORESTS OF RAJASTHAN AERIDES CRISPUM RARE PLANT OF DRY DECIDUOUS FORESTS OF RAJASTHAN COSTUS SPECIOSUS ENSETE SUPERBUM RARE PLANT OF DRY DECIDUOUS FORESTS OF RAJASTHAN Hastikarn Thorn forests. • Found in the plains of Punjab, seaside's of Western ghats and the drier parts of the Deccan plateau, • This type forests are found in dry areas with rainfall less than 70cms. • The vegetation consists of open stunted forests and xerophytic bushes and trees are just 6-7mts high. • Acacias and euphoria's are common species everywhere Tidal forests • Tidal forests are found in channels and islands of the Indian deltas like Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna. • They grow in the brackish as well as fresh waters areas and where mud and silt get accumulated. • Mangrove is the most important tree in these forests which reaches 30mts high. • Canes and palms are the species. The Himalayan Temperate and Alpine forests • Found in all the ranges of middle and upper Himalayas. • The trees range from 100- 250cms.at an elevation 1600- 3000mts • The Alphine forests at a higher elevation of 3500mts and above. • A great variety of species like broad leafed temperate evergreen trees like oaks, laurels, chestnuts, walnuts etc… • The Alphine vegetation consists of birch junifers, silver fir and shrubby rhododendrons INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PROTECTION OF FOREST • Principal Chief Conservator of Forests • Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests • Chief Conservator of Forests • Conservator of Forests • Deputy Conservator of Forests • Assistant Conservator of Forests • Range Forest Officer (Gr. I) • Range Forest Officer (Gr. II) • Forester • Assistant Forester • Forest Guard KEY ISSUES • Illegal mining activities • Encroachments • Forest fire • Grazing pressure • Fuel-wood removal • Shifting cultivation Impact of human activities and natural forces on the forest of India • Clearing and burning of the forests for agriculture,cattle rearing and timber extraction. • Clear cutting and conversion of forest land in hilly areas for agriculture,plantation and housing. • Forests affected by acid deposition originating from industries. • Pesticides spraying to control insects in forest plantation leads to poisoning all the way up the food chain and unintended loss of species. Impact of human pressures • Dams build in forest areas for hydropower and water drown huge areas ,destroying species and depriving people of their land. • In wilderness areas like the Arctic ,oil exploration and military activities disrupt the ecosystem ,contaminating areas and lead to decline of species. • The harvesting of old growth forests destroys crucial habitat for endangered species • . History of forest management • Ancient Indian scriptures and literature mention forest management • scientific study of managed forests and came with the colonial rule only • The Indian Forest Department was set up with British officers in senior positions and Indian officers to assist them. • Forest Act of 1878- control of all reserved forests including harvesting if timber and restricting access of the people and livestock to these forests. • 1890 almost every province in India had a permanent forest administration to look after the state forests. • Historically India had forest cover 65% • It shrunk to 40% by the middle of the century • Since India’s independence the figure has shrunk to 19% today. Management concern • JFM not extended to protected areas and well-stocked forests • lack of clarity regarding tenure • the extent of forestry department control within JFM is significant. • village organizations in most states have no autonomous status and can be dissolved by the forestry department. Causes of forest management failure • Indian Forest Act 1927 -restricting people’s access to ‘government’ forests • The Forest Act 1952- village communities should in no event be permitted to use forests at the cost of 'national interest'. • rights to manage forests were vested with the state governments till 1976 • After that forests put on the concurrent list • Prior to the Forest (Conservation ) Act 1980 the state governments could take any forest land out of forestry and put to other use such as agriculture, roads, and habitation settlement.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Forest Biodiversity Indicators
    FORESTFOREST BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY INDICATORSINDICATORS TOOLS FOR POLICY-MAKING AND MANAGEMENT A WORLD FOR THE WISE Forests are important for Forest policy and Uses of Indicators: The way indicators are developed and presented is critical to their utility and success biodiversity management need to take in supporting decision-making. They must be Forest biodiversity indicators are needed for presented in easily interpretable forms that are account of biodiversity many purposes, including: Globally, forests are vitally important for also appropriate to the data they depend on. biodiversity. Tropical moist forests are the most Ideally, a national forest programme • State of environment reporting diverse ecosystems on earth. Although they incorporates holistic planning for the use of a • National reporting under Multilateral This document presents some examples of only cover around 6% of the land surface, they nation’s entire forest estate. This includes zoning Environmental Agreements such as the CBD approaches that can be used for developing hold well over half, and perhaps as many as existing natural forest into areas for conversion, • Identifying priority areas and components of forest biodiversity indicators and suggestions 90%, of all the world’s species. Other forest for extractive uses and for non-extractive uses, forest biodiversity for future work in this area. types, though less diverse, harbour unique including protection. Biodiversity conservation • Evaluating impacts of particular policies and elements of biodiversity of vital importance and sustainable use are among many conflicting decisions both to people and to the biosphere in general. demands on forests that must be accounted for What are indicators? in national forest policy, planning and These uses imply two distinct types of activities management decisions.
    [Show full text]
  • FOREST BIODIVERSITY Earth’S Living Treasure
    OLOGIC OR BI AL DI Y F VER DA SI L TY A 2 N 2 IO M T a A y N 2 R 0 E 1 T 1 N I FOREST BIODIVERSITY Earth’s Living Treasure INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 22 May 2011 FOREST BIODIVERSITY Earth’s Living Treasure Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. ISBN: 92-9225-298-4 Copyright © 2010, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of any publications that use this document as a source. Citation: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010). Forest Biodiversity—Earth’s Living Treasure. Montreal, 48 pages. For further information, please contact: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity World Trade Centre 413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9 Phone: 1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: 1 (514) 288 6588 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cbd.int Design & typesetting: Em Dash Design Cover illustration: Cover illustration: Untitled, 2010.
    [Show full text]
  • Forest for All Forever
    Centralized National Risk Assessment for Romania FSC-CNRA-RO V1-0 EN FSC-CNRA-RO V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR ROMANIA 2017 – 1 of 122 – Title: Centralized National Risk Assessment for Romania Document reference FSC-CNRA-RO V1-0 EN code: Approval body: FSC International Center: Policy and Standards Unit Date of approval: 20 September 2017 Contact for comments: FSC International Center - Policy and Standards Unit - Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5 53113 Bonn, Germany +49-(0)228-36766-0 +49-(0)228-36766-30 [email protected] © 2017 Forest Stewardship Council, A.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the publisher’s copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, recording taping, or information retrieval systems) without the written permission of the publisher. Printed copies of this document are for reference only. Please refer to the electronic copy on the FSC website (ic.fsc.org) to ensure you are referring to the latest version. The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is an independent, not for profit, non- government organization established to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. FSC’s vision is that the world’s forests meet the social, ecological, and economic rights and needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations. FSC-CNRA-RO V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR ROMANIA 2017 – 2 of 122 – Contents Risk assessments that have been finalized for Romania ........................................... 4 Risk designations in finalized risk assessments for Romania ...................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ramping up Reforestation in the United States: a Guide for Policymakers March 2021 Cover Photo: CDC Photography / American Forests
    Ramping up Reforestation in the United States: A Guide for Policymakers March 2021 Cover photo: CDC Photography / American Forests Executive Summary Ramping Up Reforestation in the United States: A Guide for Policymakers is designed to support the development of reforestation policies and programs. The guide highlights key findings on the state of America’s tree nursery infrastructure and provides a range of strategies for encouraging and enabling nurseries to scale up seedling production. The guide builds on a nationwide reforestation assessment (Fargione et al., 2021) and follow-on assessments (Ramping Up Reforestation in the United States: Regional Summaries companion guide) of seven regions in the contiguous United States (Figure 1). Nursery professionals throughout the country informed our key findings and strategies through a set of structured interviews and a survey. Across the contiguous U.S., there are over 133 million acres of reforestation opportunity on lands that have historically been forested (Cook-Patton et al., 2020). This massive reforestation opportunity equals around 68 billion trees. The majority of opportunities occur on pastureland, including those with poor soils in the Eastern U.S. Additionally, substantial reforestation opportunities in the Western U.S. are driven by large, severe wildfires. Growing awareness of this potential has led governments and organizations to ramp up reforestation to meet ambitious climate and biodiversity goals. Yet, there are many questions about the ability of nurseries to meet the resulting increase in demand for tree seedlings. These include a lack of seed, workforce constraints, and insufficient nursery infrastructure. To meet half of the total reforestation opportunity by 2040 (i.e., 66 million acres) would require America’s nurseries to produce an additional 1.8 billion seedlings each year.
    [Show full text]
  • Forestry and Tree Planting in Iowa Aron Flickinger Special Projects Forester, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Bureau, Ames, IA
    Forestry and Tree Planting in Iowa Aron Flickinger Special Projects Forester, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Bureau, Ames, IA Iowa’s Forest History returned to growing as many acres of forest as it had 380 years ago (figure 2). Historic forest maps provide a footprint to begin Trees provide multiple benefits for wildlife, shade, windbreaks, prioritizing areas to improve the quality, quantity, and con- beauty, recreation, clean air, clean water, and wood products nectivity of existing forests today. to everyone living in Iowa. After it was discovered that Iowa’s soils were extremely productive, the transformation of native During the time of early statehood, Iowa forests produced many vegetation resulted in one of the most altered landscapes in important commercial timber species that are common in the the world. Early maps (1832 to 1850) show about 6.7 million central hardwood region. These important tree species included ac (2.7 million ha) or 19 percent of Iowa was covered with black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), 11 species of oak (Quercus timber, out of the total of 35.5 million ac (14.4 million ha) spp.), basswood (Tilia americana L.), American elm (Ulmus in the State (figure 1). Over time, the forest habitat has been americana L.), red elm (U. rubra Muhl.), several species of fragmented and dramatically reduced in size. Iowa has never hickory (Carya spp.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), Historic forested areas from 1860s Government Land Office Survey Spatial Analysis Project—A cooperative project with the USDA Forest Service The Government Land Office survey conducted in the 1860s depicts the distribution of forest Historic forest areas represent 5,821,438 acres or 16.2% at the time of European settlement.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimating Regional Forest Cover in East Texas Using Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) Data Ramesh Sivanpillai A,*, Charles T
    Forest Ecology and Management 218 (2005) 342–352 www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco Estimating regional forest cover in East Texas using Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data Ramesh Sivanpillai a,*, Charles T. Smith a, R. Srinivasan a, Michael G. Messina a, X. Ben Wu b a Department of Forest Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA b Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA Received 28 January 2005; received in revised form 5 August 2005; accepted 11 August 2005 Abstract The USDA Forest Service, through its Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, periodically estimates forest/non-forest area at the county level using aerial photographs. Satellite-based remotely sensed data and digital image processing techniques could substantially reduce the time required to generate this information. Satellites collect data on a repeat basis and with higher frequency than the aerial photos that are currently used for this purpose. In addition to the forest cover estimates, the USDA could use satellite data to generate maps depicting the spatial distribution of forest cover. However, few studies have tested the utility of medium-resolution satellite data for FIA purposes. We tested the potential for using LANDSAT satellite data to obtain forest cover estimates for a six-county region in East Texas. Satellite data were processed using a combination of image classification techniques that could be repeated in other regions of the USA. Results were compared with the results of traditional photo-based estimation techniques and were comparable within a 95% confidence interval. Based on this study we recommend that medium-resolution satellite data can be used for obtaining county-level forest cover estimates.
    [Show full text]
  • The Local Benefits of Forest Cover in Indonesia
    A Service of Leibniz-Informationszentrum econstor Wirtschaft Leibniz Information Centre Make Your Publications Visible. zbw for Economics Garg, Teevrat Working Paper Ecosystems and Human Health: The Local Benefits of Forest Cover in Indonesia IZA Discussion Papers, No. 12683 Provided in Cooperation with: IZA – Institute of Labor Economics Suggested Citation: Garg, Teevrat (2019) : Ecosystems and Human Health: The Local Benefits of Forest Cover in Indonesia, IZA Discussion Papers, No. 12683, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/207507 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Documents in EconStor may be saved and copied for your Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. personal and scholarly purposes. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle You are not to copy documents for public or commercial Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich purposes, to exhibit the documents publicly, to make them machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. publicly available on the internet, or to distribute or otherwise use the documents in public. Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, If the documents have been made available under an Open gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort Content Licence (especially Creative Commons Licences), you genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. may exercise further usage rights as specified in the indicated licence. www.econstor.eu DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES IZA DP No. 12683 Ecosystems and Human Health: The Local Benefits of Forest Cover in Indonesia Teevrat Garg OCTOBER 2019 DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES IZA DP No.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of Myths and Realities of Deforestation in Northwest Pakistan: Implications for Forestry Extension
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY 1560–8530/2006/08–1–107–110 http://www.fspublishers.org Analysis of Myths and Realities of Deforestation in Northwest Pakistan: Implications for Forestry Extension TANVIR ALI, BABAR SHAHBAZ AND ABID SULERI† Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agriculture Faisalabad–38040, Pakistan †Sustainable Development Policy Institute Islamabad. 1Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Pakistan is among those countries, which have very high deforestation rate. The remaining forests are very diverse in nature and of significant importance for the country’s economy and livelihoods of the local people. This present paper attempts to analyze myths and realities regarding deforestation in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. It presents the perceptions of forest dependent people of the province regarding the forest use patterns, condition of forests, change in forest cover, factors responsible for the forest depletion and increase of illegal cutting. The intensive use of forest wood for household needs (cooking, heating, timber etc.) and ineffective forest management strategies by the forest department were some of the key reasons of deforestation in the study area. Policy guidelines (implications) are suggested for improving the effectiveness of forestry extension services. Key Words: Forests; Forestry Extension; Deforestation; NWFP INTRODUCTION almost always have a place in rural livelihoods. People rely on forests for fodder for livestock, timber for houses, and Forests occupy about 4.6 million hectares (Mha) of the above all for fuel wood, which is the most important, and total land area of Pakistan (Government of Pakistan, 2005). often the only source of energy for cooking and heating for This includes, 1.96 Mha of the hill coniferous forests (43% most rural households.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 India
    Report India Rome, 2020 FRA 2020 report, India FAO has been monitoring the world's forests at 5 to 10 year intervals since 1946. The Global Forest Resources Assessments (FRA) are now produced every five years in an attempt to provide a consistent approach to describing the world's forests and how they are changing. The FRA is a country-driven process and the assessments are based on reports prepared by officially nominated National Correspondents. If a report is not available, the FRA Secretariat prepares a desk study using earlier reports, existing information and/or remote sensing based analysis. This document was generated automatically using the report made available as a contribution to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, and submitted to FAO as an official government document. The content and the views expressed in this report are the responsibility of the entity submitting the report to FAO. FAO cannot be held responsible for any use made of the information contained in this document. 2 FRA 2020 report, India TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1. Forest extent, characteristics and changes 2. Forest growing stock, biomass and carbon 3. Forest designation and management 4. Forest ownership and management rights 5. Forest disturbances 6. Forest policy and legislation 7. Employment, education and NWFP 8. Sustainable Development Goal 15 3 FRA 2020 report, India Introduction Report preparation and contact persons The present report was prepared by the following person(s) Name Role Email Tables Prakash Collaborator prakash_293@rediffmail.com All Subhash Ashutosh National correspondent [email protected] All Introductory text Forest Survey of India (FSI) is a national organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India.
    [Show full text]
  • Illegal Logging: a Market-Based Analysis of Trafficking in Illegal Timber
    The author(s) shown below used Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and prepared the following final report: Document Title: Illegal Logging: A Market-Based Analysis of Trafficking in Illegal Timber Author(s): William M. Rhodes, Ph.D. ; Elizabeth P. Allen ; Myfanwy Callahan Document No.: 215344 Date Received: August 2006 Award Number: ASP TR-002 This report has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice. To provide better customer service, NCJRS has made this Federally- funded grant final report available electronically in addition to traditional paper copies. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Illegal Logging: A Market-Based Analysis of Trafficking in Illegal Timber Contract # 2004 TO 164 FINAL REPORT May 31, 2006 Prepared for Jennifer L. Hanley International Center National Institute of Justice 810 Seventh Street NW Washington, D.C. 20431 Prepared by William M. Rhodes, Ph.D. Elizabeth P. Allen, B.A. Myfanwy Callahan, M.S. Abt Associates Inc. 55 Wheeler Street Cambridge, MA 02138 This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department.
    [Show full text]
  • 4 Chapter 2- Forest.Pdf
    CHAPTER 2 FOREST – THE PROTECTOR AND PROVIDER Introduction The term ‘Forest’ is generally defined as a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth. The services provided by forests cover a wide spectrum of ecological, economic, social and cultural considerations and processes. A multitude of benefits are received from them which includes goods such as timber, food, fuel and bio-products; ecological functions such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water and air purification, and maintenance of wildlife habitat; and social and cultural benefits such as recreation and spirituality. The contribution of forest resources in protecting top soil, watershed and irrigation structures, reclaiming land from the sea, protecting coastal areas from storm damage and in maintaining and upgrading the environmental quality is much beyond quantification. The range of essential ecosystem services provided by forests further extend to other aspects such as health (through disease regulation), livelihoods (providing jobs and local employment), water (watershed protection, water flow regulation, rainfall generation), nutrient cycling and climate security. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2013 specifically mentions that “protecting tropical forests therefore not only has a double-cooling effect, by reducing carbon emissions and maintaining high levels of evaporation from the canopy, but is also vital for the continued provision of essential life-sustaining services”. Though these services are obviously essential for the well-being of people and the planet, they remain undervalued and therefore, cannot compete with the more immediate gains delivered from converting forests into commodities (Mitchel et al., 2008)1. Recognizing that ecosystem services operate from local to global scales and are not confined within national borders and that the existence of mankind relies on them, it is in collective interest to ensure their sustained provisioning into the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 2 Forest Cover
    CHAPTER 2 FOREST COVER 2.01 Introduction Assessment of forest cover using satellite data on a two-year cycle has been one of the most important activities of FSI since 1986. The present assessment is the 9th assessment in this series. Forest cover is defined as an area more than 1 ha in extent and having tree canopy density of 10 percent and above. This definition is based on the resolution of digital satellite data (pixel size 23.5m x 23.5m), scale of interpretation (1:50,000) and the technique employed for image processing. No distinction with respect to the type of tree crops (natural or man made) or tree species has been attempted since robust techniques are not available for making such distinction. Moreover, no cognizance of the type of land ownership or land use or legal status of land was taken as geo- referenced maps depicting such information was neither available nor possible to collect at country level. Thus, all species of trees (including bamboos, fruits or palms, etc.) and all types of lands (forest, private, community or institutional) satisfying the basic criteria of canopy density of more than 10 percent have been delineated as forest cover while interpreting satellite data. The minimum area of 1 ha for forest cover has been kept because this is the smallest area that can be delineated on a map at 1:50,000 scale. 2.02 Satellite Data and its Period The present assessment is based on digital interpretation of satellite data for the entire country. The satellite data was procured from the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad in digital form.
    [Show full text]