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Guardians of the forest keeps fires at bay

To protect the forests, the villagers of Pathri are employing traditional knowledge passed down through generations…reports Suchita Jha

At the break of dawn, Gajendra Rokde walked down the village road carrying a lathi to protect himself from wild boars. Then, with three of his friends, he entered the 130-acre forest adjacent to their village of Pathri, situated in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district.

In the absence of Mansaram, the appointed van rakshak (forest protector) who had fallen ill, the villagers had taken it upon themselves to patrol the forest.

“I’ll be here till noon to ensure that there are no trespassers who may cut down trees or harm the birds and animals in this forest. I’m checking for signs of smoke or sparks to put them out before they cause a forest fire,” Rokde said.

Having protected the forests for generations, the villagers of Pathri take turns inspecting the woods every morning. Due to their constant vigilance, there hasn’t been a single forest fire incident in this dense jungle in more than eight decades.

Meanwhile, there have been 54,321 fire alerts between January 1 and September 19 this year in Madhya Pradesh, as per the 2021 Forest Survey of India. This is the state with the largest forest cover in the country.

Pannalal Nagpure, the village’s Sarpanch said that he hasn’t heard of any forest fires in his area since when he was a child. “This jungle is ancient. I remember my grandfather used to be one of the caretakers of the forest. I haven’t heard of any forest fires in this jungle since British time. We don’t let anyone cut down healthy trees and only use what is needed,” he added.

An inherited, collective task

The jungle adjacent to Pathri is noted for a particular grass, known as Bid, used in Hindu funeral rites. This grass is an essential source of income for the villagers.

“The Bid grass grows to its full height by December and then starts drying up, increasing the risk of forest fires in March-April. The van rakshak removes the grass and dead leaves from the forest. People from other villages also buy it from us to thatch their roofs,” said Nagpure.

The villagers also collect dry sticks and dead tree branches and sell them to the locals at reasonable prices. “We only collect and auction the wood from trees that are already dead. The income generated through this helps us take up more developmental works in the village,” added Nagpure.

The village has a dedicated 15-member committee, called Sarvajanik Bid Samiti, named after the grass. The representatives of the committee are elected by the villagers every two years and are tasked with protecting the forest from any harm by appointing a van rakshak.

Rokde, who serves as the committee’s secretary, said that apart from bid the forest houses a diverse flora and fauna. It is home to trees like Sal, Teak, Mango, Neem, Banyan, Jamun and also animals like rabbits and wild boars alongside various butterfly species and birds.

“Earlier, there used to be a large population of vultures, but with time, they have become fewer in number,” added Rokde. He said that the forest department hadn’t conducted any survey or inspection as the forest area falls under revenue land.

Nagpure recalled that there were talks back in 2009 to bring the forest under the forest department, but it didn’t pan out due to reasons unknown to him. The villagers, however, think this is for the best.

“Our jungle will be snatched away from us and the forest department will start their activities here. We know this forest like the back of our hand. If people from distant areas are sent here for patrolling and caretaking, they will take time to learn the ropes and won’t listen to us,” said Rokde.

He also brings up the issue of Maoist activity in the region. “Though Balaghat is a Maoist area, the Maoists never stop us from entering the forest as they know that we will not harm it. But that equation may not be possible with outsiders,” he said.

Protecting the forest as a way of life

To protect the forests, the villagers of Pathri are employing traditional knowledge passed down through generations.

“We have learned everything from our forefathers. They used to cut the grass annually, and it became a tradition. People used to wait for December or January to repair their homes after rains when the grass was available. Though we have cemented houses now, and only a few people need the grass, we are continuing this tradition for the forest’s safety,” said Nagpure.

He added that the van rakshaks also collect dry leaves from the ground and put them in small pits dug in the forest to turn them into mulch. “This way, we don’t need any artificial fertilisers or chemicals for the trees as they get proper nutrition from the dead leaves and animal dung itself.”

The villagers also fiercely protect the forest from trespassers. “We love the trees here more than life itself. They are like our children, and we ensure that no one cuts them. In addition to the van rakshak’s daily care, all 15 members of the committee also conduct weekly inspections in the forest,” Nagpure said.

If the committee finds that a healthy tree has been cut down for selfish interests, there is a framework in place to ensure judgement and punishment.

“We call a meeting, and the person who has chopped down a tree or a shrub is summoned. The witness who saw them cutting down the tree is also called to testify. In most cases, the culprit accepts his fault and is fined. The culprit has to pay the money to buy five plants, and the cost of transportation is included in his fine. When the committee procures the plants, the person responsible for cutting down the tree is called again to plant them at the same spot,” Rokde added.

The time has now come to appoint a new van rakshak. Having been at his post for almost 20 years, the current van rakshak, Mansaram, said, “We always elect someone who knows how to take care of trees and doesn’t have any vested interests. I will just provide them with guidance as I’m too old to discharge my duties. It’s been a pleasure to serve the forests.”

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Jharkhand’s indigenous communities defend forests  

The Pipilo forest boasts more than 150 types of trees. Communities in the area benefit by collecting and selling fruits, greens and mushroom varieties from the forests in nearby markets…reports Rahul Singh

A decade’s-long save-the-forest movement in Bokaro leads the fight in protecting rich, biodiverse, and ecologically-sensitive sub-tropical forests from commercial exploitation and environmental devastation while allowing indigenous peoples to thrive off their land.

Bokaro: During their younger days, Khirodhar Mahto and Jodha Mahto, residents of the Upar Ghat area of the Bokaro district in Jharkhand, were deeply troubled by the gradual decline of thick forest cover around their village. They felt that the diminishing green canopy signalled a silent threat to their existence and that of their village. Prompted into action, they rallied together like-minded conservationists among their fellow villagers and started a campaign to save the forests. Today, both Khirodhar and Jodha (52 and 55 years old, respectively) witness the fruits of their activism, as they are surrounded by lush and dense forests that benefit both the environment and the community.

Khirodhar Mahato is now the chairman of the local forest conservation committee consisting of 11 members and also the convener of the Bokaro District Forest Conservation Committee.

He recalled, “The movement gained traction in 1981-1982. When we organised ourselves to salvage and rejuvenate the forests, it brought awareness and sensitivity among the common people.”

His companion, Jodha Mahto, added, “At that time, the dense forests were fading. Many trees had become stunted, making us aware of the severity of the situation. We realised that if our forests disappeared, then our fields would also become barren, and in turn, our livelihoods would also suffer.”

Unfettered mining

Gulab Chandra, a prominent environmental activist of Bokaro district and convenor of the Damodar Bachao Abhiyan said, “These forests are adjacent to some of the country’s major power and coal-producing industrial units — namely the power generation unit of Bokaro Thermal and coal mining projects of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL). So protecting the biodiversity of the forest land becomes more challenging and necessary.”

Chandra said that in the 90s, through the Sanjeevani Rath, they started a campaign to distribute tree saplings and inspired people to plant them. Under the banner of the Chotanagpur Central Forest Protection Committee, they also encouraged people to plant trees to celebrate the birth of every girl child, thereby reducing female foeticide. In due course, the trees would provide the parents with financial benefits at the time of their daughter’s wedding. The tree became her ‘brother and protector’ and symbolic rakhis were tied to them. This Van Raksha Bandhan movement, popularised by prominent environmentalist Mahadev Mahato, was adopted to safeguard the forests in Pilpilo. The activist’s visit to the village had motivated the people here, who started tying protective threads on the branches of trees and bushes.

“We take a pledge once a year to protect the trees and take out a procession in which women are also equally involved,” said Pushpa Devi (40) from Kanjakiro.

Meena Devi (30), her fellow villager, said, “We stop anyone from chopping trees and make them understand that it will disturb the environmental balance.” Devi is associated with self-help groups of the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) and is the chairperson of the village organisation.

The Sakhus of Upar Ghat

Upar Ghat is a sprawling collection of many isolated forests which mainly fall in the Nawadih block area. Until recently, this zone was still a stronghold of Naxalites with numerous instances of unrest. Though not completely eradicated, their presence is receding, with the violence on the ebb for the time being. Nawadih was also in the news when the Bokaro forest division under the Vanvardhan, Afforestation and Land Conservation Scheme for 2020-21 planted 5.9 lakh native tree saplings in 616 hectares of forest land. Other prominent villages in Upar Ghat are the villages of Pilpilo, Kanjakiro and Pipradih in the Kanjakiro Panchayat limits. People of Kurmi, Adivasi and Turi communities reside in these areas.

The Pipilo forest boasts more than 150 types of trees. Communities in the area benefit by collecting and selling fruits, greens and mushroom varieties from the forests in nearby markets.

Pilpilo, Khirodhar proved a valuable guide, providing thorough information about the flora of the land. “Worshipped by the tribal communities, almost 90 per cent of the trees here are Sakhua. It absorbs water during the monsoons and slowly discharges it during the summers, replenishing groundwater sources. Therefore, a significantly large number of trees would alleviate any future water shortage,” he said, emphasising that the water-retaining properties of Sakhua are well-known among the locals. He said that there are many evergreen springs in the forests of Lugu and Parasnath adjoining Upar Ghat and attributes it to the abundance of Sakhua trees.

Dr MS Malik, Dean of the Department of Forestry at Birsa Agricultural University, said there haven’t been studies on the Sakhua’s capacity for water harvesting but said that they grow on very less water and are prolific across Jharkhand because of the favourable acidic soil. “If you dig a pit next to the tree, it retains water and doesn’t dry up,” he said. The Sakhua matures over 40-60 years and has medicinal value.

Mahto knows all about the medicinal value of these native trees; it’s committed to a sharp memory. Oil is produced from the fruit of the Kusum tree, and lacquer is also made from it. The fruits of the Kanaud kaur and Sayam core tree are edible. The fruit of the Koraiya tree is used to treat diabetes, while the Bandarlore and Rohan trees have medicinal properties. During the monsoons, khukri/khukdi or futka (mushroom varieties) are found in the forest, foraged and sold at high prices, almost at Rs 400 per kg.

At constant vigilance

In 2020, many trees were felled when the power line was installed through the Teharwa forest adjacent to the Pilpilo forest. Also, stones for the construction of the power units were sourced from the Upar Ghat forests, the quarrying of which caused significant damage to the woodlands, according to Gulab Chandra, the convener of Damodar Bachao Abhiyan. There were no public consultations about any of this, said Khirodhar Mahto. This pushed Chandra and local activists to raise public awareness against the plundering of natural resources and habitats. The incident had rattled many people.

On the condition of anonymity, a former Forest Department official said that if there are government or private industrial activities within the forest limits it is bound to cause damage, then, as a rule, the concerned authorities must make provision for uprooting and transplanting trees that are in the line of destruction in an alternative area.

However, no such conservationist endeavours have been recorded in Pilpilo. He also added that there was also much pressure to open the ecologically endangered zones of Upar Ghat to the tourism sector. Attempts to contact AK Singh, Bokaro’s Divisional Forest Officer via phone and email have been unsuccessful.

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UK sets out plans to help protect forests

Businesses will be also required to undertake due diligence to show that they have taken action to ensure this is the case, and report on this annually…reports Asian Lite News.

Plans to clean up Britain’s supply chains to tackle illegal deforestation were stepped up on Thursday as the government launched a consultation on how to implement new measures in the Environment Act.

Demonstrating UK’s commitment to go further than ever before to clamp down on illegal deforestation, the consultation will help shape plans requiring due diligence from businesses to ensure they are using commodities produced in line with relevant local laws.

The measures will make it illegal for larger businesses in the UK to use commodities whose production is associated with large-scale forest loss such as cocoa, beef, soy, coffee, maize and palm oil, where they have not been produced in line with relevant local laws.

Businesses will be also required to undertake due diligence to show that they have taken action to ensure this is the case, and report on this annually.

Launching the consultation, International Environment Minister, Lord Goldsmith, said, “Our forests not only have a vital role in cooling the planet, they are a source of clean air and water, home to indigenous communities and some of the most precious biodiversity on Earth – protecting them is essential to our survival. Now the Environment Act has passed into law, we have the opportunity to shape these due diligence measures so we are effectively tackling key drivers of deforestation. Alongside introducing these world-leading measures, we intend to ensure the global coalition that we brought together last month under the UK presidency at COP26 to commit to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 becomes reality.”

Forests absorb up to one-third of the global CO2 released from burning fossil fuels every year, but we are losing them at an alarming rate. Between 2015-20 an area of forest the size of 27 football pitches was lost every minute – with almost three-quarters of deforestation linked to the expansion of agriculture, with land being cleared to make way for grazing animals and to grow crops.

Globally, nearly half of all recent tropical deforestation was the result of illegal clearance for commercial agriculture and timber plantations, and this figure is closer to 90% in some key forests. It is therefore vital to work with producer countries and support their efforts to uphold their laws and protect their forests. The UK, working with 28 producer and consumer governments which account for 75% of global trade of key commodities, has developed a shared roadmap of actions to protect forests and other ecosystems while promoting sustainable development and trade dialogue. This FACT (Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade) Roadmap also launched at COP26 was backed up by £500m of UK finance to aid delivery.

Justin Adams, Executive Director, Tropical Forest Alliance, said, “The UK COP Presidency deserves credit for bringing the nature agenda into the heart of the recent climate negotiations at COP26 – there is simply no path to 1.5 degrees without changing how we produce food and manage our landscapes. While there were many truly significant public and private sector commitments and investments announced in Glasgow, the real test is turning those into action. The Due Diligence requirements in the landmark Environment Act is a good example of how these political signals can be implemented in the right way. The key lesson we have learnt from tackling deforestation over the last decade is that no single actor can do it alone – collective action and partnership are key to success. Seeking input from producers, other consumer countries, and the companies who are working to address deforestation in their supply chains will be crucial.”

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In Nayagarh, villagers begin to assert total ownership over forests

Ironically, it’s the villagers who had to worry about being arbitrarily pulled up by forest guards for venturing into the forest…reports Shashi Bhushan.

In January 2020, a few villagers in Mitukuli village in Odisha’s Nayagarh, were patrolling the forests — a practise popularly known as thengapalli — when they found nearly 225 well-grown trees cut down by the forest department. Infuriated at the sight, they put forth the issue before the Community Forest Resources Management Committee (CFRMC) (Gosthi Jangala Sambala O. Parichalana Committee), formed by the villagers.

This kickstarted the process to formally reclaim the forest lands that they have been protecting for generations, and legally petition for the ownership of Community Forest Resources (CFR) under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Believing that this will empower them with rights for protection, regeneration, conservation and management of forest resources, the inhabitants of eight villages (including Mitukuli) in the Dasapalla block in the district met with the Welfare Extension Officer (WEO) On August 16 to submit the petition.

“Ame ama janglara sima nirdharana karichu aau ame chahunchu amaku ama jangala uapare adhikar milu (we have demarcated the traditional boundary of our forest and demand our rights over CFR),” said Laxmi Mallick (54), pointing to the forest just behind Mitukuli village. On entering this village, comprising 50 homes, mostly belonging to marginalised tribal and Dalit families, one encounters a cement plaque displaying the words — “Villagers protect and manage these forest resources”.

The final straw

Last January, the day after the villages found the fallen trees, they noticed officials from the Forest Department, Forest Development Corporation and a few labourers bringing in a truck to remove the trees. The villagers protested the entry of the vehicle. “We didn’t allow them to lift the wood; we sat on the timber. We protested because after all, we are protecting our forest but without informing us, they cut down our trees,” Pramila Jani, a committee member, said.

Initially, the department didn’t agree and tried to forcibly take away the timber. But the villagers were firm in their refusal to move. To diffuse the situation, the District Forest Officer, Ranger and other officials agreed to a negotiation.

“We demanded our share of the timber and asked them to not cut any more trees without taking permission from the committee,” said Subhas Chandra Jani, President of the CFRMC. Finally, the forest department decided on a compromise and assured to pay the villagers Rs 87,700 against the trees they had cut down. The amount is yet to be transferred to the CFRMC account, but villagers are happy to have claimed their share for the first time. This incident built confidence among the villagers, and they decided to redraw the traditional forest boundaries to claim control over their entire CFR area.

Reimagining borders

“Our ancestors have been protecting this forest, and now we continue their legacy. If we establish the boundary, it will empower us to restrict the entry of outsiders,” Dhaneswar Jani, an active member of Mitukuli CFRMC and representative of the Adivasi Cell in Nayagarh district, told 101Reporters. This already includes timber thieves and smugglers, against whom women like Mallick protect their forests, stick in hand. “But many times the Department itself cuts down and takes away timber in the name of making rath for Lord Jagannath, cutting down siali creepers just to clean the forest and plant trees which benefit them. They never thought to consult us or take our permission,” said Mallick.

Ironically, it’s the villagers who had to worry about being arbitrarily pulled up by forest guards for venturing into the forest.

The community sat together to redraw the traditional boundary line so they can use the resources and impose restrictions. They also invited neighbouring villagers, the Revenue Inspector and officials from the forest department for joint verification and to avoid any conflict in future.

“We have considered the cattle grazing land, barren land, streams, types of trees, forest deity and places our ancestors used to visit while preparing the outline of the traditional forest area,” said Bhubaneswar Jani, Secretary of the Mitukuli CFRMC. He added that once they finished the blueprint, each family contributed to buying lime powder to mark the boundaries.

“Before beginning this divine effort, we performed a puja before our village deity and ventured into the jungle. Since then, we have been awaiting the official claim certificate over CFR,” the secretary said with a confident smile.

Nirman, a non-profit organisation, took steps to empower villagers about information surrounding community forest rights. Narayan Parida, Programme Officer at Nirman oversaw regular meetings and sensitisation programmes with community leaders, women and youth to guide them about the process.

Reliance on forest produce

Bankataila is one of the seven other neighbouring villages that was inspired by Mitukuli to petition for rights over CFR. With a population of 160, Bankataila began as a satellite village and was sharing forest land with the neighbouring village of Munduli. Laxmidhara Muduli, President of CFRMC, Bankataila, said, “When we heard Munduli were demarcating their forest area, we found they had taken away most of our forest land.” But the villagers from both the villages were able to sit down together and amicably redraw the forest borders.

“Ame kaani pati bhikhya magilu, ama jangala amaku diya (We begged and requested them to give us our forest land to survive). This touched the hearts of the village elders, and they returned the portion of the land to Bankataila,” he said.

In Mitukuli, the villagers barely have about two acres of cultivable land on average where they generally grow paddy. To supplement their income and nutrition, they collect sal, siali and tendu leaves, mushroom, fruits, jhuna, honey, mahul, palua, satabari and odanga from the forest. It is estimated that each family makes at least Rs 10,000-15,000 from forest produce yearly which can be substantially augmented if they have stronger rights over these resources.

Dhaneswar said, “In 1999 and 2000 when we faced drought-like conditions, our forest saved us from starvation. Women ventured into the forest to collect siali leaves and stitch them, while men sold these in the market to buy rice for their families. Besides tubers, different types of spinach, potatoes and mushrooms helped us survive.” This year too, they expect the sporadic rainfall to produce a below-average yield. “But we are hopeful that our forest will help us,” he said.

They also believe the restrictions on outsiders will help protect the forest from fires. “Last year, our sanctuary went up in flames. We toiled into the night to extinguish the fire. Though the reason is still unknown, we believe restrictions on access will protect the forest,” said Muduli.

Consolidating community efforts

Though these eight villages in Dasapalla are waiting for recognition of CFR, they have already started following the rules formed by their respective committees. Each committee has 15 members with equal participation of women. If villagers require timber or bamboo for the construction of homes or any other purposes, they will have to obtain permission from the committee.

“The committee will decide on which trees can be cut and the villager will have to pay for it,” said Sukanti Behera, secretary of the Bankataila CFRMC, showing the receipt book. Till now, the Committee has received Rs 1,800 from villagers. “But the food from the forest has been exempted and we don’t charge for it,” she added.

The Bankataila CFRMC hopes to be able to spend the funds collected on the development of the village and community. “We have planned to start a seed bank to collect seeds from the forest. Before the monsoons, we will plant them for the growth and regeneration of the forest,” said Nandi Bhoi, a member.

If the eight villages fail to get the CFR title in the next three months, they will bring this issue before the Collector. Dhaneswar Jani echoed their common belief, “After all, we are protecting our forests, so we rightfully deserve ownership over forest resources.”

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Women’s group guards Jharkhand forests

Seeing the destruction of forests, the women of Sakhi Mandal took the initiative to protect the forests. “Save the Jungle” initiative was started by 104 rural women from 7 Sakhi Mandals of this area…reports Manoj Pathak.

The active participation of rural women in Jharkhand in environmental protection is a one-of-its-kind initiative taken by the women of Sakhi Mandal, a self-help women’s group from Jharbeda panchayat in Anandpur block of West Singhbhum district, to save the forests from being cut down.

Through this initiative started by the rural women in April 2021, awareness is being spread about environmental protection among the villagers. These women are guarding the forests with sticks in their hands.

The villagers say that Sal, Teak, Asan, Bamboo, Karanj, Chironji, Chaikudi, Mahua, Kendu and several other trees in the forest are spread over 9 hectares in Mahishgida in Anandpur block. In the past, during the cultivation and harvesting of these wild crops for livelihood, smaller trees nearby were cut and forests were also set on fire.

Seeing the destruction of forests, the women of Sakhi Mandal took the initiative to protect the forests. “Save the Jungle” initiative was started by 104 rural women from 7 Sakhi Mandals of this area.

These women have divided themselves into four groups and guard the forest area every day from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the evening. Carrying sticks in their hands, these women who are emphasising on environmental protection, also count the number of trees daily so that they come to know of any reduction in the number of trees.

They gather at one place every day and then divide themselves into groups and guard the forests. If any woman evades her responsibility of guarding the forests she has to pay a fine of Rs 200.

Baironika Barjo, a woman associated with Sakhi Mandal said, “If any woman of the Sakhi Mandal is found absent without notice, she will have to pay a fine of Rs 200. For failing to pay the fine a provision has also been made for strict action so that a fear is instilled in the self-help group members. During these times of corona pandemic, women are fulfilling their responsibility by following the social distancing norms prescribed by the government by staying at a distance of two yards from each other.”

Nemanti Jojo says “The balance in the environment is lost due to the cutting of forest trees. It is the responsibility of all of us to save the environment so we have to protect the forests on our own. Forests are a significant part of our livelihood. If there is a threat to forests, our future will also not be secure.”

She said all of us (Sakhi Mandal women) guard the forests for two to three hours every day. They also make the villagers aware about environmental balance.

Now the rest of the villagers are praising this effort by these women and also contribute voluntarily in this work. Villagers now collect wood according to their needs after informing the women of Sakhi Mandal.

Nancy Sahai, CEO, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), says that ‘Save the Jungle’, a collective initiative of the women of Sakhi Mandal, shows the awareness and social responsibility of rural women towards environmental protection.

She said, “Women are also fulfilling their financial and social responsibility by being associated with Sakhi Mandal. The women of Sakhi Mandal in the state are helped and made aware on all subjects, including organic farming, solar irrigation plant, eco-friendly farming etc. I hope this initiative by sisters of Sakhi Mandal will make others realize the responsibility of environmental protection.”

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