The forest infanticide - a case study on the removal of brushwood from the forests of Naoradehi Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh)
Boaz, A.A.; Boaz, O.
Indian Forester 120(1): 35-39
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-4816 Document Number: 532281
The removal of thorny material from makor (Carissa spinarum) in the forests of Naoradehi Sanctuary is permitted to local villagers under the 'Nistar' regulations which allow collection and use of this material for erecting fences on field bunds. However, the concession is greatly mis-used, and villagers collect any thorny species available (including prohibited species such as Acacia catechu and Ziziphus xylocarpa), and when these are not available remove saplings and poles of valuable non-thorny species such as Lagerstroemia parviflora, Anogeissus latifolia and Tectona grandis. This paper quantifies the fencing requirements for 5 villages in the area, and reports widespread damage to and loss of young regeneration in the forests, caused by the mis-use of Nistar, equivalent in the area surveyed to an annual loss of 1000 ha of forest plantation spaced at 2x2 m. Regulation of the practice of Nistar is urged, with education to persuade the villagers to start raising live fences around their fields, using species such as Prosopis juliflora and Euphorbia royaliana [E. royleana]. Such a practice would also reduce illicit removal of fuelwood from the forests.