Wildlife Society of Orissa(WSO) has expressed concern
over the decision of the forest officials to set fire to the forest for undertaking
plantation.
This apart, bushes which provided vital food requirements for elephants are
being cut down by the forest department in order to clear the area for
plantation.
WSO secretary Biswajit Mohanty alleged that many forest divisions are now
indulging in the harmful practice of clearing forest undergrowth by setting
forest areas on fire for plantations.
He said the WSO had urged the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest(PCCF) to
issue direction to the field staff not to burn down the undergrowth for
plantations.
During the previous year (2009-10) Orissa had received Rs 131 crores towards
Compensatory Afforestation and Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)
funds from the Centre. This money is meant for compensatory afforestation,
regeneration of degraded forest areas, protection of forests and wildlife,
research and strengthening of infrastructure.
But it is ironical that CAMPA funds meant to protect forests and to regenerate
them are being used to set forests on fire.
He said many of the forest ground fires easily spiral out of control and destroy
unintended patches of forest cover in adjacent areas.
Many ground dwelling fauna particularly small mammals like hares, mouse deer,
snakes, foxes, mongoose, pangolin, civet cats, frogs, land turtles and birds
like jungle fowl, grey partridge will be adversely affected by these man made
fires, since they will lose their habitat and food.
At present, such clearing of undergrowth and creepers is in full swing in most
forest divisions since the ground is being prepared for plantation work.
Unless immediate steps are taken, it would be too late to prevent the damage.
The harmful practice of cutting down forest climbers should be firmly
discouraged in the interests of wildlife, he said.
Info courtesy : Biswajit Mohanty
No comments:
Post a Comment