THE environmental value of the forest has finally overtaken the commercial value in the last 50 years. The forests are being increasingly looked upon by everyone as the only remedy for pollution as well as being the only pure source of water and oxygen. Hence, the effort to conserve and protect these lands. After independence, government policies regarding these forests have seen a paradigm shift. From using these forest commercially, the focus has shifted to conserving it for the benefit of future generations. This movements is getting stronger all the time, courtesy the like-minded people who have come together to take up the cause of the environment. They are playing an active role in influencing government policies pertaining to forests. They also sensitising people to the importance of these policies and their implementation.

The hard work of these bodies, as they co-ordinate with government agencies, has paid off handsomely, as real awareness has already begun at the grassroot level. The recently formed joint forest management committee is further encouraging the involvement and participation of rural people for the implementation of few policies framed by the government. Recent orders of the apex and high courts have strengthened the hands of the forest authorities, and illegal encroachment of forestland, at least on the Borivili National Park side, is likely to be a thing of the past. New acts like the wildlife Protection Act; the Private Forest Acquisition Act, and the Forest Conservation Act have been enacted to achieve this goal.

Started 150 years ago by the British, the forest department was a single body and its main role was the protection and extraction of timber for commercials use. Today, the forest department has spread its wings four-fold.

Now, there is social forestry, which takes care of advertising to create awareness among people, undertakes plantation programmes on community and private lands and providesseedlings for private plantation. There is also the forest development corporation, which was started to enrich less valuable forestland by undertaking important teak plantation, thereby adding value to already existing tracts of forests. There is a wildlife wing to protect special areas, which are important for wildlife conservation. National parks and sanctuaries have been established so as to provide legal support to the wild flora and fauna, and the state wildlife wing has further created nature interpretation centers to educate people on the importance of proper interaction between wild animals, plants and forest cover and human beings. This has resulted in a better understanding between forest officials and the people.

Moreover, animals and plants are being categorized into various sections depending upon their vulnerability to extinction. Those endangered, receive special attention, ‘Project Tiger’ was started for the protection of tigers, as special areas have been allocated for the protection of wild flora and fauna. They are also now striving to pre serve vital species of tigers, rhino, and barasingas. Undoubtedly, the forests need to make way for the development of mines, roads, agriculture, factories, houses, etc. but it needs to be done in a more balanced way. Free roaming cattle also create untold damage by eating grass and other shrubs, thereby paving the way for soil erosion. Those, which present the greatest danger to the conservation of forests, are the brigands who poach animals for ivory, skins and other parts for money. Anti-social elements are hacking sandalwood and teak trees, further depleting an already fragile ecosystem. These and other such acts have to be stopped since it is negating the Herculean efforts of forest officials and voluntary workers.

We have already lost vast tracts of prime land. Let us work hard to wards ensuring that the damage is contained.