Centre asks states to remove felling norms on 10 tree species

NEW DELHI: SOME BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING ECONOMIC INCENTIVES LIKE MSP FOR TIMBER WILL WORK BETTER TO PROMOTE CULTIVATION OF TREES

Following removal of restrictions on felling and transit of Bamboo to help private plantations and help India meet its goal of having 33% of its area under forest and tree cover, the Centre has asked states for the same exemptions for at least 10 other tree species, environment ministry officials said on Monday.

The ministry issued an advisory , a copy of which was seen by HT, to state governments in January asking for a pan-India exemption for Eucalyptus, Poplar, Casuarina, Subabul, Silver Oak, Acacia Mangium, Melia Dubia (Malabar Neem), Khejri, Indian Willow, Gamari (Gmelina Arborea).

Forests are a concurrent list subject, which means that while the Centre and state can both pass laws regarding them, state laws cannot contravene central ones. Environmentalists argue the move will promote illegal felling on forest land, but officials disagree. “These are mostly agro-forestry species that are not usually found in forests,” Siddhanta Das, director general of forests, said. “Some states have already done it,” he added.

Until all states notify the tree species exempt from felling and transit, inter-state movement will remain an issue.

Das said the list of exempted trees is not exhaustive and state governments can include more. He noted that Bamboo was a different case because it is genetically not a tree but a species of grass.

Removing tree species from the list requires state governments to be on board.

Some believe providing economic incentives like setting a minimum support price to farmers for timber to promote plantations will work better. “Trees generally take six to eight years to grow,” said JV Sharma, director, forestry & biodiversity division at TERI. “The farmer will not plant these trees if they are not assured they will get a good price ...”

Apart from promoting illegal felling, Sharma believes loosening regulations will make it more difficult to establish chain of custody. Increasingly, countries that import timber require certification that it was legally harvested. Environmentalists also oppose what they see as a move to push plantations at the cost of natural growth forests.