Role of Foresters in Disaster Management
- Part 2 -

By PMVS Mony and Anil Kumar *

Adverse Impacts of Deforestation

5. Interventions at the District Level:

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) should also include hazard and disaster reduction measures wherever it is appropriate.

The compensatory afforestation programmes must be formulated and implemented packing into consideration the local expectations. Depending upon the soil, climate and water resources. Indigenous plant must be given priority over the exotic plants in general. Social and agro-forestry with conservation and protection of natural forests are the viable alternative and mitigate the adverse impact of deteriorating environmental condition on human society.

By increasing forest/plantation cover the soil is not exposed hence there is no erosion. These forest cover will also reduce the flow of running water speed. The bio-mass added it by the plantation is also useful for employment generation for example bamboo can be used for afforestation, soil conservation and for generating employment through making baskets and local requirements etc.

In case the speces planted are of economic value, such as like medicinal plants it will also get value added and will enhance the income and the livelihood of the local people. The bio-mass will help in value addition of the local economy and on which various innovations can be tried making charcoal, fuel wood and even jatropha plantation thus the oil production to substitute in diesel.

Various sericulture practices which are must for the proper forest growth and conservation are to be started in such forest with disaster as focus. Forest land diversion laws for various developmental project are to be made rational and Eco-friendly so that the adverse impact on environment is minimised. The development projects are to be cleared only after taking into account the risk assessment from such as forest fire, landslides, soil erosion etc.

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) should also include hazard proneness and disaster reduction measures wherever it is appropriate. The compensatory afforestation programmes must be formulated and implemented taking into consideration local aspects like soil, climate and water resources.

Indigenous plants must be given priority over the exotic plants in general. Assessment is to be made weather the development project is enhancing overall development or it takes development in one area and damaging another area. For example the natural flow of water and natural drainage has to be taken into account by laying roads and railway tracks.

Some of the floods are caused due to construction of highway and road development without taking into account the natural drainage. The development project should not add to the problems of destroying the bio-mass cover and other resources for example Plachamida (Kerala) where Cococola plant WAS installed which was depriving people ground water resource, unsustainable.

Forest fire is one of the major factors responsible for forest degradation. Essential steps based on new modem techniques for forest fire prevention, detection and suppression are to be adopted for safe guarding the forest involving the local community. Along with conservation of natural forest cover there is also an urgent need to increase the forest cover of the country. Plantation under social and agro forestry may fulfill this need.

The choices of species for plantation under social forestry are to be made taking into consideration local needs, soil, climate and environmental conditions. It is seen that-JFM (Joint Forest Management) is having a good impact in forest protection. The development programmes being carried out under various schemes of the Central and State Government, externally aided projects and other special projects also need to be modified and tailored in such a way that causes minimum loss to environment.

It is to be ensured that the agro and social forestry are taken as major component of all the developmental programmes being run by various departments and Ministries. Plantation and forest conservation are to be made an integral part of this programnmes—particularly in sensitive and disasters prone areas of the district.

The Afforestation Plan at the district level should be prepared and the forest cover of the district at no cause should be allowed to go down but instead over a period it should be increased by bringing more areas under the tree cover both on the Government land, as well as on degraded forest area as well as in private land of the people. Once people start getting economic returns from the tree, it will convince people, and they would certainly go for planting trees; specially Mango, Tamarind, Jackfruit, Mahua etc.

Bamboo planting should be taken in a mission mode. The JFM/Committee should be convened regularly to address the issue of disastersritigation like flood, drought, landslide, Tsuanami etc. If the forest is managed well on watershed basic, Floods, could be easily mitigated. Creating check dams in appropriate place would store excess water for the dry period.

For example, in Assam flood mounds are created but digging and stacking the mud and forming a mound and packing with grass and here people live during the flood season with their cattle. The dugs in fact will store more water, it will also conserve water which is used for cultivation and will increase the water table and water availability. Smritvan, Medicinal Plant Garden, should be created for awareness creation, Habitat conservation programme, wildlife appreciation etc

Contribution of Forest/Foresters at the Time of Disaster :

The following administrative steps can take by foresters at the time of disasters-
1. Construction material like bamboos, small timber and fuel wood to the affected people can be supplied.
2. Also fodder for the cattle can be made available.
(c) Temporary settlement of affected people in the degraded/open forest area can be provided.
(d) Employment opportunities to the affected people in the forestry activities can be provided.
(e) Immediate food supply under 'World Food Programme' and providing livelihood should be provided.

Funding Forest Department by the District Administration to Prevent Disasters :

The following administrative steps can be taken by District administration through forest Department to prevent disasters.

1. Plantation along the banks of rivers, sea coast to prevent soil/sea erosion.
2. Plantation in the steep slop areas to prevent landslides.
3. Plantation in the waste/fallow land to prevent erosion of fertile surface soil to control the speed of flood eater leads to soil & moisture conservation.
4. Encouraging the rural people/cattle owners for stall feeding and improve the cattle breed.
5. To keep in readiness the forest depots for providing the building/construction material like bamboos, poles, small timber, tall grasses etc.
6. Steps to prevent loss of bio-diversity, wildlife & awareness creation should be taken up.
7. Arrangements for transporting people across the river/water bodies.
8. For mass disposal of carcasses and dead bodies, Fire wood can be supplied by Forest Department.
9. Watershed management for conservation soil & water conservation should be practiced.

6. During Drought Following Steps Need to be Required :

1. Drinking water supply in advance must be ensured.
2. Forest Dwellers should get enough food grains.
3. Fodder supply should be ensured to cattle.
4. Employment of opportunities to the affected people by creating permanent assets like construction of road building, and removable of sites from existing canals and lakes (Food for Work Programme), fire line maintenance preparation soil for plantation, and other plantation activities should be provided to the people.
5. Sufficient fuel wood for cooking should be incurred.
6. To manage sufficient grass/fodder availability to the cattle in one State the nearby State can be asked for permission to provide fodder. The migration of cattle for free grazing without fees till the situation improves in the affected State.
7. Forest Department can permit 'cattle camp' inside the specified forest area temporarily for certain period. To replenish the aforesaid area the administration can fund for immediate planting etc.
8. Means of transport such as bamboo, fodder, grains etc can be provided by the Forest Department itself.
9. Manpower of Forest Department can also be utilised as they are trained and if needed disaster related training can be provided to them also.
10. The use of camping materials like camp cot, tents etc can be provided.
11. Eligible/qualified persons in whose family bread winners have been lost and property in the disaster can be recruited/inducted labourers employees in the forest department at different levels as per their suitability. Reservation/priorities can be given to the affected people in the recruitment of personnel to the forest department.

Cyclone

Protective action such expansion and maintenance of mangrove forest areas should be done. Casuarinas, Eucalyptus, Cashew, Bamboo and other hardy trees should be planted to act as windbreaker in coastal area against cyclone which forms the first defence (ex shelter in Orissa).

Conclusion

Foresters in the interior area should act as resource persons who could give leadership and facilitate rescue and relief in time of disaster. Foresters at all levels should be adequately trained both at the induction level and later at stage in the same about first aid, artificial respiration, bio-terrorism, epidemics, and wild life attack etc. Tribal people have tradition wisdom in coping against disasters which could be tapped & strengthened with appropriate technology. Inaccessible and interior forest village should be provided with adequate food material in advance so that during disaster it comes handy.

Insurance cover to be extended to tribal/forest dwellers against natural calamities like fire and wild life attacks etc. The forest can be managed well on watershed basis so that floods can be easily mitigated. Creating check dams in appropriate place would store excess water for the dry period and floods can be prevented to certain extent.

Concluded .....