Deforestation and Village Life

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Forest wealth of India has shrunk to eleven percent of the total geographical area of India against the requirement of thirtythree percent in plain. Due to large scale deforestation and lack of adequate afforestation, affect water quality, hydrological cycle, and caused siltation in rivers, floods and draught. As a result of large scale deforestation, annual rainfall declined to 3 to 4 percent and nearly 5,000 useful wild flora and fauna have slided into extinction and animal health affected due to fodder scarcity, causing decrease in production in milk. It also affect national employment, natural environment and our cultural, ethical and historical importance and also our basic need of soil, water and oxygen. This book "Deforestation and Village Life" deals in detail about causes of deforestation in villages and their impact on village economy with facts, figures and their solution. For esse understanding about the subject, the book has been divided into six chapters. At- tractive and problem related photographs and tables, historgraphs have also been added. For convenience to the researchers, extensionists and students, references have given in last for further study and consultation about facts.

PROF. RAMESH KUMAR JHA (b. 1966) obtained his Master's degree in Botany in the year 1987 from Bhagalpur University. He has around 8 years teaching, research and extension experience in forestry and allied subject. Presently He is Junior Scientist-cum-Assistant Professor, Forestry, Rajendra Agricultural University, R.R.S. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Munger, Bihar. He obtained training in Forestry from Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, Post Graduate Diploma in Ecology and Environment from Bihar and Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management from Madhya Pradesh.

Besides his several forthcoming re- search publications, he has written books on common weeds, agroforesters companion and watershed technology.

He is a popular writer on forestry and environment for several dailies. He is a life members of the Association of Tree Scientists, Range Management and Agroforestry, Van and Prakriti and Association of Soil and Water Conservationists.

Rapid strides made by advancing civilisation are putting great malady, called deforestation. As a result of the cutting of the forest nearly 1 per cent of the land surface of the country is being laid bare every year. Deforestation is bound to cause sinking of oxygen as well as green house effect. It declines water quality, affects hydrological cycle cause siltation effect in rivers, flood and drought. As a result of this annual rainfall has declined by about 3 to 4 per cent. Besides this, nearly 5,000 useful wild flora and fauna slide into extinction as a result of denudation of forests. It affects our village economy causing adverse effect on animal health due to fodder scarcity. It also affects production of milk and milk products. Shrinkage of wetland and increasing of wasteland, both affect crop productivity and aquaculture. Deforestation causes national unemployment to the tune of atleast 10 crore mandays of tribal people. It also causes annual wastage of wet dung to the tune of nearly 45.8 million tonnes annually due to shortage of timber fuel. It causes isolation of rural people from natural environment and also social imbalance. Our cultural/ ethical and historical importance is also disturbed by deforestation. It affects all basic needs of soil, water and oxygen.

There is a growing realisation that in order to preserve environment and for a healthier climate the deforestation of land has to be checked. From the point of view of long term gains in agriculture and allled activities pertaining to rural development and in fact, the preserving of the very village life, it is not only necessary to prevent deforestation but also to bring more and more area under forestation. This trend is a significant departure from what was done till a few years ago when indiscriminate cutting of trees and denuding of soils/land was more rampant.

Forestry has a tremendous scope not only for preservation of environment but also from many other angles. Agro-forestry can be used for getting food, fodder for animals, fibre, fuel and fertilizer. Forestry can guarantee organic/natural manuring of soils and high income to the villagers who go for bringing their land under Agro-forestry programmes.

Of late, a number of research projects as well as training and transfer of technology programmes have been initiated both by the Govt. Agencies and the Non-Govt. Organisations in order to derive full benefit from this kind of potentiality of forestry programme.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages Book's Contents and Sample Pages