Let’s see a few definitions first:
A large area of land where trees and other plants grow naturally is called a forest.
The wild animals and birds living in a forest are called w ildlife.
We studied in the last post that
Forests provide a lot of uses to our environment and day to day living.
So, we need to conserve them.
Now, various people have interests in the conversation of forests.
These people are called stakeholders.
Let’s look at the various stakeholders of forests
Stakeholders of Forest
Stakeholders of Forest include
- People who live in and around forests - These people depend on produces of forest for most aspects of their life
- The Forest Department - The forest of the government owns the land and controls the resources from forests
- The Industrialists - The companies who use forest produce to make other goods. Example - Paper mills use sap from trees, Bidi is made from Tendu leaves of trees
- Wildlife and Nature Enthusiasts - These people who want to conserve nature in its most pristine form
What do these Stakeholders Need from the Forests?
|
Stakeholders |
What do they need |
|
Local People |
They need
|
|
Forest Department |
They clear vast areas of vegetation to make a single set of trees which can provide revenue to the forest department. This clearing of vegetation ignores the needs of local population |
|
Industries |
Industries consider forests as a source of raw material for their factories. The raw material is used to make
Since the industrialists only want raw materials. They do not care about the sustainability of forest in a particular area |
|
Nature and Wildlife Enthusiasts |
They are not dependent on forests for their livelihood. But they try to protect the forests and biodiversity. Example - Bhishnoi People protected Khejri Trees by sacrificing their life in Khejrali village near Jodhput, Rajasthan |
We should ensure that the Forest resources be used in a way that is both environmentally and developmentally sound.
This means that
The exploitation of the forest should be in a controlled manner, such that the needs of the forest people are conserved, as well as the environment is not affected in a harmful way
.
Chipko Andolan
During the early 1970s, in a village Reni near Garhwal (Uttrakhand, India), there was a dispute between local villagers and a contractor who was cutting down trees of the forest close to the village.
One day, the contractor’s workforce appeared to cut the trees when men ofthe village were not there. Undeterred, the woman of the village reached the forest and clasped the trees by hugging them.
Why should we conserve our forests and wildlife?
