VOL 2 | ISSUE NO. 12 | APRIL 2013 | `50 | paGES 52 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Forests For A Prosperous Future Harbingers of Sustainability Maharashtra has five forest types as per the Champion and Seth’s classification. Each forest type represents a unique Eco-system. Southern Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests i) Dry Teak Bearing Forests: 1 Forests of this type occur Principal species is Tectona mostly on upper hill slope from grandis (Teak) and the 450 meters to 1050 metres associates are Ougeinia above the m.s.l. in Western dalbergiaoides (Tiwas), Acacia Ghats. The main species are catechu (Khair), Gmelania Terminalia paniculata (Kinjal), arborea (Shivan) and Memocylon umbellatum Anogeissus latifolia (Dhawada) (Anjani), Terminalia chebula etc. (Hirda), Syzigium cumini (Jambul), Olea diocea (Parjamun) and Mangifera indica (mango), Actinodaphne ii) Dry Mixed Forests hookeri (Pisa), etc. Teak is present occasionally and the evergreen component Southern Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests of species is larger than 2 Two main sub-types occur under this group. in case of Teak bearing i) Moist Teak bearing Forests forests. The main species Important and valuable forests are Pterocarpus marsupium of the State from commercial (Bija), Salmalia malabaricum view point, these are mainly (Semal), Terminalaia bellarica (Behada), Dalbergia confined to Project Tiger latifolia (Shishum), Syzigium cumini (Jambul), Terminalia area in Melghat region of tomentosa (Ain), Lagerstremia parviflora (Bendara) etc. Amrawati district, Chandrapur, Gadhchiroli and Thane districts Southern Tropical Thorn Forests with Tectona grandis (Teak), 4 Under this forest type fall the associates are Terminalia tomentosa (Ain), Delbergia the forests of the low rainfall latifolia (Shisham), Adina cardifolia (haldu), Madhuca areas of Marathwada, Vidarbha, indica (Moha), Pterocarpusmarsupium (Bija), Mitragyna Khandesh and Western parviflora (kalam), Salmalia malabaricum (Semal) and Maharashtra. Majorities of these Dendrocalamus strictus(Bamboo) etc. forests are heavily degraded due to low fertility coupled with ii) Moist Mixed deciduous Forests low rainfall. The main tree species found in these forests Teak is present occasionally are Acacia arabica (Babul), Acacia leucophleca (Hiwar), and the evergreen component Zizyphus jujuba (Bor), Butea monosperna (Palas), and of species is larger than in case Belanites rexburghii (Hinganbet) etc. These forests are full of Teak bearing forests. The of Euphorbia and Cassia scrub. main species are Pterocarpus marsupium (Bija), Salmalia Littoral and Swamp Forests malabaricum (Semal), 5 The littoral and swamp Terminalaia bellarica (Behada), forests occur along the creeks Dalbergia latifolia (Shishum), Syzigium cumini (Jambul), and littoral in Sindhudurg Terminalia tomentosa (Ain), Lagerstremia parviflora and Thane district. Although (Bendara) etc. their comparative extent in the State is marginal, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests these forests are important 3 Forests falling in this group occupy a major part of for protection of seacoast state. Main specie being Tectona grandis (Teak), these and marine life. The typical mangrove species found forests produce middle and small size timber. Following in this area are Avicennia spp. and Rhizophora are the main forest sub-types. spp. etc. Our Forest, Our Future I have immense pleasure in extending my best wishes to Various schemes are being implemented at Central and State all, on the auspicious occasion of Gudhi Padwa. This month level to set up Sanctuaries, reserved areas, tiger projects is also special for Directorate General of Information and and protection of wildlife. Everyone has now realized that Public Relations, as it’s first and foremost publication, infrastructure facilities should be created for golden maiden Marathi ‘Lokrajya’ is entering 65th year of its existence. The of symbiosis of nature. Hence, the concept of Joint Forest uninterrupted journey of Lokrajya since pre-independence Management with the participation of locals is implemented era in Mumbai State continued through the Bilingual State effectively. Income sources have been created for locals and in Samyukta Maharashtra. During this period Lokrajya through implementation of forest-based employment-self- created its own identity. With extensive support of readers employment schemes. In Maharashtra, experiment of Joint and active cooperation from the Government this journey has Forest Management Committee has effectively curbed illegal become successful. activities of wildlife poachers to a great extent. Every year, World Earth day is celebrated through various During last few years many instances of panthers crossing awareness programmes on 22nd April to create an emotional into the human habitats near forests has been noticed and it bond with earth, water resources, flora, and fauna and to share is due to human interference in the wildlife habitats. This can the responsibilities of maintaining the ecological balance. On be avoided by implementation of Joint Forest Management, this occasion, we are bringing out Forest Special issue. people’s participation and their awareness. Of the total area of 3,07,713 Sq.Km, forests of Maharashtra The issue carries a review of untiring efforts of State is spread over 61,939 sq km. This is around 20% of the Government for conservation of flora and fauna in total land area. The Western Ghats in the Sahyadri Hill Maharashtra. I am especially thankful to Praveen Pardeshi, Ranges, Satpuda Hill Ranges, Ajanta Hills, Balaghat, Principal Secretary for Forest Department for his immaculate Gavilgad in Vidarbha ,Tadoba and Sironcha bring grandeur cooperation. I hope this issue will invaluably contribute to for Maharashtra. A noteworthy mention is that Vidarbha is enhance love, affection and concern for forests and wildlife. replete with 38% of forest area in the State. Maharashtra Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a great visionary. He has has six National Parks at Navegaon, Borivali (Mumbai), mentioned importance of forest resources for human beings Gugamal (Amravati), Pench, Tadoba and Chandoli besides 43 in his commandments and recognized the support of nature sanctuaries and 4 Tiger projects located at Melghat, Tadoba, for a huge leap towards progress and development. We all Pench and Sahyadri. know the important role played by dense forests of Sahyadri, We are aware that human culture is nurtured and developed hills, rivers alongwith his soldiers in his efforts for foundation by forests and rivers. The Indian culture visualizes forests of Swarajya. In present circumstances it is our duty to restore as a Goddess and even today it is worshipped traditionally. old grandeur to forest by keeping him as an ideal. Due to industrialization and modernization forests are Vrikshavalli Amha Soyari Vanachari seen with commercial approach and as supports for human Pakshihi Susware Alawiti … needs and facilities. Human beings brutally attack forest by In tune with these lines of Saint Tukaram nurturing of the neglecting eco-balance. Its dreadful results are felt from the forests and spirituality will lead human beings to the eternal beginning of the 21st Century. The ecological imbalance has happiness. Let us prove ourselves worthy of this confidence astonishingly increased global average temperature and also fostered by our culture through conserving forest resources. affected season cycles. Due to absolute neglect of forest resources a huge number of wild animals are endangered. Many species have almost extinct and some others are at the stage of extinction. Tiger, the core of biodiversity is being poached brutally. A century Pramod T. Nalawade ago, the number of tigers was around 10,000 has come down Editor-in-Chief, ‘Maharashtra Ahead’, DGIPR to 1,500 only. Hunting any animal cannot be termed as valour and definitely not as an achievement. However human beings hunt wild animals and ramshackle foundations of biodiversity resulting in their downfall. For sustainable development of forest, special attention is paid to management, conservation of forest and wildlife. APRIL 2013 3 Contents MAHARASHTRA AHEAD 5 Let Us Inherit the VOL.2 ISSUE NO.12 APRIL 2013 `50 Realm of Forestry - The Chief Minister Editor-in-Chief 8 Retaining the Green Cover Pramod T. Nalawade - The Deputy Chief Minister Managing Editor 10 Movement for Pralhad Jadhav Maha-Forest-Rashtra Team Maharashtra Ahead 5 Suresh Wandile - Minister for Forests Dr. Patangrao Kadam Kirti Pande Kriti Lalla 12 Let Us Join Hands for Sales and Circulation Forest Conservation Digamber Palve - Bhaskar Jadhav, Vilas Bodke Minister of State for Forests Produced by Navbharat Press Ltd. 14 The Way Forward Director Operations: D.B. Sharma - Praveen Pardeshi Project Management Team 18 Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright G.M. Operations: A. Shrinivas - Atul Dhamankar 12 A.G.M.: Dalvinder Singh Manager: Ashok Shirke 22 Wildlife At Its Best Editorial Coordinator: Subhash Shirke - Sunil Limaye Prepress 25 The Dream ‘Re-Green Maharashtra’ A.G.M. Prepress: Sachin Phulpagar - Praveen Pardeshi Art Art Director: Mahesh Jadhav 27 Rejuvenating the Biodiversity Photos Correction:Siddhesh Sawant of Western Ghats Maharashtra Ahead is printed on behalf of the - Abhay Mokashi Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, Government of Maharashtra, at 18 30 Managing the Woods Jointly Navbharat Press Ltd - Popatrao Pawar Navbharat Bhavan, Plot no. 13, Sector 8, 33 Boosting Nature Tourism Sanpada (East), - Gauri Suryawanshi Navi Mumbai 400 706. 36 Enabling Forest Management