Mass movement must to preserve forests
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 02, 2023 -

SIMILAR to chief minister N Biren's recent scathing remarks resulting in the forest department officials and personnel swinging into action and carrying out relentless poppy destruction drives in and around the reserved forest areas in coordination with law enforcement agencies, it is hoped that the Phayeng villagers' allegations that the department has been sleeping over unauthorised activities which pose serious threat to the forest would prod the conscience of the officials concerned.

Taking into account of the large-scale destruction caused to the natural forests in the hills, both for jhum cultivation and poppy plantations, there is substance in Phayeng Gram Panchayat former pradhan A Gojendro's statement that deforestation and forest fire ignited by those residing in the hills have become a matter of concern for the people of the area, who are taking good care of the forest and have been protecting it for ages.

In view of the government authorities conceding that steps to preserve and expand forests wouldn't be fruitful without the involvement of the people, the proposal by the Phayeng villagers for proper demarcation of reserved forest areas should be accorded importance for their prime objective is to protect the natural forests located nearby the village which they had been nurturing for ages.

With exception of Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Noney districts, there is practically no mature tree left in the forests in other hill districts and it is likely that the rate of depletion of the forest cover will only accelerate in the coming years unless the practice of poppy cultivation ends.

While it would be infeasible to stop new settlements and expansion of villages in and around reserved forest areas in the hills, there is no foreseeable reason for the government not to entertain proposals by permanent settlers at the foothills to protect the trees for they would naturally shoulder the dual responsibility of maintaining the greenery and prevent large scale deforestation and forest fire, that too without any assistance of the forest department.

At this juncture, when concerted efforts are being made by concerned stakeholders to create mass awareness on adverse effects of deforestation to the environment and involvement of various organisations in tree plantation activities, the proposal and objective of the Phayeng villagers should be held in high esteem and duly reciprocated in case the government has any desire to make the forest protection initiatives a mass movement.

For instance in 2019, the government roped in young Elangbam Valentina as ambassador of the Green Manipur Mission with the stated objective to remind the adult population that the future generations would be hit hard in case the global issue of climate change is not addressed at the grassroots level and demonstrateihat the establishment is determined to bring certain changes that could help check further degeneration of the environment.

Every year during the monsoon months, the government along with civil societies has been carrying out large scale plantation of tree saplings.

However, such an-important endeavour has not impressed all as could be comprehended from certain villages quixotically resisting tree plantation programmes not to speak of erstwhile dense natural forests replaced by poppy fields.

Thus, it is imperative that whichever village wants to be a part of the campaign for saving the forests should be promptly brought on board.