Dear readers,

This world environment day theme highlighted the role of forests, attractively tagging it as ‘nature at your service’. A service that we defy, deny and destroy at will. Wildlife, communities, ecosystems and more are pushed aside in the march of development. But can inclusive development promote forests? Can we for example say that every fifty km square of agricultural, industrial or urban land has to be broken by twenty km square of pristine forests abounding in endemic species of trees and wildlife – apart from what we have stocked up as sanctuaries and protected area. Perhaps the idea would be workable if rights of usage are conferred on the people who build it.

Say, we start with Andhra Pradesh, Assam or Chhattisgarh, where according to the Forest Survey Report 2009 the maximum decline of forest cover has been measured. Once the land rights are ascertained, a certain area or corridor may be demarcated for forest regeneration. A list of area specific forest produce inclusive of timber may be identified with rights of usage and replenishment based on ownership. For a fixed regeneration period, the government through its various forest departments, and NGOs may hold hand to identify species that are not only economically viable, but also enhance the freshwater capacity of the area. A cost benefit analysis, vis-à-vis agriculture has to be favourable to the stakeholder to turn forester from farmer. Without doubt the present 21 percent of geographical area under forests would quick jump to well above the targeted 33 per cent within a fraction of the time otherwise envisaged.

This issue of G’nY showcases many issues related to forests apart from delving into intricacies of the Census 2011, especially in relation to child sex ratio. A heartfelt thanks to Shri Rasik Ravindra, Dr M A Atmanand and Dr Satish Shenoi for their unflinching support for the world environment day special of G’nY.