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Recommendations for a moratorium

Recommendations for a moratorium IN JUNE 1983, the ministry of agriculture recommended certain measures for the protection of the Himalayan ecology, on the basis of which the Uttar Pradesh government imposed a ban on felling of trees above 1,000 metres. The Centre's recommendations were:

Imposition of a complete moratorium, for one growth cycle or 15 years, on commercial felling in the UP Himalaya right down to the Shiwalik foothills. People's requirements to be met from dying trees on slopes with a gradient of less than 30 degrees.

Development of community forests around villages to meet people's requirements for fuel and fodder. Management of existing forests through cooperative agencies involving the forest department, the people and the industry.

Initiation of agro- and social-forestry programmes with ecologically compatible species by the forest department to fulfil the people's needs.

Exclusion from the ban of portions contributing to the firewood needs of the people.

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