Background
Situated in the western and semi-arid zone of the country, Gujarat is a forest deficient state, having only 9.8 % of its geographical area under notified forest, as against the National average of 23.3% Similarly the state has 7.7 % area of notified forest as forest cover as against the National average of 20.5% Though, the forest of Gujarat are rich in all the different levels of Biodiversity, i.e. ecosystem diversity, floral and faunal diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity, but the forest are under acute biotic pressure. The forests of
Gujarat
, representing 2.5% of forest of the country have to support the 5% of human and 7% of cattle population of the country. The growing population, with its decadal growth rate of 22.48% and the consequential demand on forest and natural resources is increasing the pace of degradation.
Apart from development of forest lands, effective protection of forests is very important, Forests can be protected more effectively through better means of information, communications, equipments and task force etc. Forests of
Gujarat
are under severe stress due to local demands of burgeoning human and cattle population, land hunger, demand of forest land for irrigation and various other development programmes. Improved communication in hinter land facilitates development and anti social elements alike.
Availability of forest area in Gujarat per capita is
0.04 ha
. as against National figure of
0.08 ha
. Low availability is also there in case of live stock. Per capita availability of live stock is
0.10 ha
. as against the national availability of
0.14 ha
.
Thus the biotic pressure on the forests is too high. The important timber species of the region being teak is in high demand. High premium on the teak timber attracts anti social elements in whose hands poor tribals become a tool of deforestation. This calls for a multi pronged approach to bring back the forest to health so that they regenerate naturally. Protection of available forests and the bio-diversity therein requires to be reinforced too meet challenges of the day that is growing bigger with time.
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