What`s wrong with northeast`s forests?
A panel committee, formed under the Union ministry of environment and forests (MEF), and headed by former MEF secretary R Rajamani, has reportedly conducted an indLpth survey on forest conservation, reasons for the loss of forest cover and the levels of degradation of forests in the northeastern states. The committee has suggested strategies and an integrarted' action plan for enhancingthe eco- logical integrity of the" forests and preserving their biodiversity. A K Mukherji, who happens to be one of the seven-member committee, said to Down To Earth in Delhi, "The Rajamani committee has involved NGOs, eminent citizens, locals and district committees to hammer out a solution for the northeast impasse. It has taken cognisance of the prob- lems of the forest-dependewt com- munities, especially the triballs...."
According to Mukherii, harvesting trees within reserve forests with .moderation", aiming for a 'sus-tainable forest management, could be a possible way to maintain bal-ance in the environment. White declining to comment on the forest mafia, Mukherji opined that it was not correct that the tribal practice of jhum (slash-and-burn) had greatly affected the forest cover. "All they do is to clear a very well-markod forest area, and don't go beyond it. The period of regeneration earlier used to be three-four years, whereas now it has even become 10 years in certain areas. This is because of rampant felling in other areas and several other economic reasons."