Tag: understanding development: perspectives, measurement and sustainability

Chipko movement was a forest conservation movement in India. It began in 1973. Alalknandha floods alarmed people of how deforestation has resulted in disturbance. Thus they took up this movement and carried on a number of rallies to create awareness among people. They protested against commercial logging operations. And finally deforestation was prevented.

Deforestation is the process of cutting down forests in order to satisfy human needs like laying roads, for the purpose of wood for furniture etc.

Deforestation has many negative effects like Increase in temperature on the earth, Ground water depletion, and Weather change in different parts of the world. Soil erosion and degradation of soil, reduction of forest products and loss of biodiversity. But it cannot increase the fertility of soil and give more yield.

Historical data regarding the impact of industrialization on forest cover often cites specific figures in environmental studies. 9.3% is the commonly accepted statistic in this context.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees and forming a forest where there were no trees before.

Afforestation is different from reforestation. Reforestation is bringing back the forests which were destroyed because of deforestation.

Special afforestation programs include vanmahotsav, haritha haram etc

Forest are classified into Reserved Forest, a Protected Forest or a Village Forest according to Forest Act of 1878. Land rights on reserved forests and protected forests are given according to the orders passed by government.

The main difference between these two are that reserved forests activities like hunting, grazing etc. are totally banned. Reserved forests may be upgraded to the status of wild life sanctuary and then to National Park.

In protected areas activities like hunting, grazing etc. are permitted to the local communities.  

All the forests and wastelands other than the reserved and protected forests are considered unclassed forests. Most of the forests in the north-eastern states of India and Gujarat are unclassed forests            

Reforestation is bringing back the forests which were destroyed because of deforestation.

It is different from afforestation. Afforestation is a process of planting trees and forming a forest where there were no trees before.

• Joint forest management (JFM) is originated in West Bengal accidentally in 1971. According to this policy, there exists partnership between state and local communities in safeguarding forests.
  
• Forests are protected from illegal harvesting and exporting of timber. Forests are also protected from fire and grazing, in exchange people get non-timber products and a share of revenue from the sale of timber.
  

Process of conversion of fertile land into barren land over a course of time is called desertification. The ecological implications of desertification are

• Lowering of water table
  
• Increase in area under wastelands
  
• Increase in frequency and intensity of droughts
  

Thar Desert which is located in the state of Rajasthan is advancing at an alarming rate of about 0.5 km per year

This is attributed to the desertification due to soil degradation. Process of conversion of fertile land into barren land over a course of time is called desertification

• Process of conversion of fertile land into barren land over a course of time is called desertification
  
• Among the given options both overgrazing and reckless felling of trees is responsible for desertification.