Rampant deforestation alarmingly shrinks green cover of Assam

Appointment of Foresters, Forest Guards demanded to protect forest areas

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: At present, deforestation has been a major concern for the State of Assam for its environment in the last one decade and half leading to multiple problems like pollution and health hazards.

According to India State of Forest Report announced in 2009, the recorded forest area of Assam was 26,832 square kilometres, which constitutes 34.21 per cent of the total geographical area of the State. According to the legal status, Reserved Forests constitute 66.58 per cent, and Un-classed Forests, 33.42 per cent of the total forest area.

But during the past years Assam has lost a large area of green cover due to deforestation caused by various factors, such as agriculture, pasture expansion, flood and erosion, forest products consumption, export, population pressure, encroachment, agression from across the inter-State Border, activities like illegal timbering, poaching, wildlife trafficking.

A recent study carried out by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing has predicted depletion of 9,007.14 sq km (2.94 per cent) of forests in parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 2028. The largest amount of forest cover loss was noticed in Dhemaji district (1,419.99 sq km) followed by Sonitpur district (825.85 sq km), Lohit district in Arunachal (820.61 sq km) near Assam, Tinsukia district (662.28 sq km) and Lakhimpur district(635.15 sq km). Of the 9,000 sq km forest cover loss prediction, Assam and Arunachal are predicted to lose around 670.55 sq km of the moist deciduous dense forest by 2028. During the period, Assam has lost almost 14.1 per cent to the national tree cover. In Guwahati, forest covers only 22 per cent of the total area whereas it should cover at least 33 per cent.

In this backdrop, the issue of serious concern is that the Forest Department does not have adequate man-power including Foresters and Forest Guards to protect the forest areas of the State from deforestation. Only a few numbers of forest guards have to be vigilant to protect the Reserved Forests across the State at present. Similarly, a few numbers of employees have to take care of the afforestation schemes implemented by the department concerned. This issue has also been driving rampant deforestation in Reserved Forest areas across the State.

Under such circumstances, Ganatantriik Nagarik Surakshya Mancha (GNSM) and United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO) have demanded the State Government to appoint Foresters and Forest Guards in the Forest Department immediately to save the forests areas of the State. In a press release, GNSM president Jarimin Narzary, general secretary Tolan Sonowal, UBPO president Manoranjan Basumatary, general secretary Pitambar Brahma said that almost 80 per cent of Foresters and Forest Guards in Upper Assam would retire by 2024-2025. According to both organizations, Foresters and Forest Guards in the age group of 50 to 58 have been working in the Forest Department at present. Out of them a major part will retire very soon.

Both organizations alleged that the State Government had implemented various aspiring schemes through the Forest Department, like Sahitya Monishi Upavan, sapling of invaluable trees plantation, biodiversity conservation etc for the expansion of forest areas, but no employees had been appointed to take care of the schemes.

"As a result of it, the aspiring schemes of the Forest Department have ended with smoke," the press release stated.

Further, the GNSM and UBPO have expressed strong reactions over the publication of advertisement recently on the part of the State Government in order to appoint 50 Forest Range Officers. In this connection, the organizations remarked, "The forest areas of the State would be safe and secured only when Foresters and Forest Guards, instead of Forest Range Officers, will be appointed."

The organizations have demanded the State Government to initiate alternative steps to protect the forests of the State and to revive and to take care of the implemented afforestation schemes.

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