Mandi, August 26: The last decade has seen an alarming rise in illegal felling of trees in Himachal Pradesh forests, posing a grave threat to the environment and local communities. Revered for their spiritual and ecological significance, these forests are vital for the livelihood of local communities and play a key role in combating climate change.
The Himalayan forests have long been a sanctuary for sages and spiritual seekers, providing a tranquil environment for contemplation. For local communities, these forests are not only a source of daily livelihood but also hold deep cultural and spiritual significance as the abode of forest deities. In addition, these forests provide essential ecosystem services to millions of people living in the North Indian plains, act as carbon sinks and contribute to biodiversity conservation.
Despite the critical importance of these forests, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed an alarming rise in illegal felling of trees, which has often been brought to the attention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Notable cases include the illegal felling of over 477 trees in Mauza Jungle Taradevi, Shimla during 2014-15 and 895 deodar trees in Ahlami beat, Chamba during 2013-14. Besides, similar incidents were reported in Bhalwag beat of Koti forest block, Shimla, where over 416 trees were illegally felled between 2015-18. In 2022, illegal felling of Khair trees was also reported in Rail beat of Dada Seeba forest range in Kangra district. These incidents, which often involve corruption among forest department and forest corporation officials, contractors and traders, are extremely worrying.
The most recent incident involves the illegal felling of around 400 green trees in Seraj forest division, The Tribune reported.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/mla-alleges-felling-of-400-trees-in-kullu-forest/.
The area falls under the Community Forest Rights (CFR) claimed by local communities under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. In response, the community is demanding inclusion in the salvage felling process managed by the Forest Corporation to ensure transparency and protect their forest resources.
The community proposes the following solutions:
- Formation of a joint committee of Community Forest Rights Management Committee (CFRMC)/FRC, gram panchayat, forest department and Forest Corporation officials for regular monitoring of trees marked for salvage felling.
- Comprehensive monitoring and record-keeping, including photographic and video evidence at the beginning, midpoint and end of the process to prevent illegal activities.
- Mandatory verification and issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) to ensure compliance and protect forest resources.
The local communities urge the government to take their suggestions seriously and involve them in any activity that harms their community forests. This collaborative approach will help curb the growing trend of illegal felling of green trees in Himachal Pradesh and promote democratic forest governance through local participation. Immediate action against illegal felling in Seraj Forest Division and consideration of the community’s proposal under SDLC Banjar is a must for long-term forest conservation. Further report on the story is awaited.
For any correspondence please contact Sahara NGO, Sharda Niwas, Village Khundan, Tehsil Banjar 175123
(Shri Rajendra Chauhan 9219611138, Shri Hari Singh Thakur 8580435567)
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