Forest Based Industries

Introduction

India is very rich in forest Resources, with a large area under forest. All kinds of trees are found here varying from the deciduous, tropical hardwood trees to the evergreen and coniferous trees.

Trees provide one with a wide range of products. From paper to paints, chemicals, housing and furniture, they are a source of many materials. India’s forest Industry basically can be divided into two major areas: the paper and pulp industry and the wood industry.

Paper Industry
The first effort to produce paper by modern techniques was done in 1816 in Tanjavur (Tamil Nadu). It was unsuccessful. The first successful paper mill was set up in 1879 in Lucknow. Again, in 1881, paper mills were set up in Titagarh (West Bengal). It is considered the beginning of modern paper industry. Paper industry is a weight-losing industry. About two and half tons raw materials are needed for making one ton paper. So, the localization of this industry is mainly in the areas of raw materials. The following raw materials are used in making paper in India
Soft wood-In India, soft wood (of coniferous trees) is obtained from the Himalayan region. Seven per cent of the total raw materials used in the paper industry in India is obtained from soft wood.
Bamboo-Bamboo is the mostly used raw material for making paper in India. 70% raw material for paper industry is obtained from bamboo. Karnataka is the largest producer of bamboo followed by Assam.
Sabai grass-Sabai grass provides 15% raw material. The best quality paper is produced from its fibres. Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of sabai grass. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are other major sabai grass producing states.
Bagasse-It is a sugarcane residual part. 7% pulp for paper industry is obtained, from bagasse. Industrial paper, hard board paper, packing paper etc are made from it.
Rags-Pulp is also made from wastepaper and rags. It is used to make handmade paper. India is foremost in production of handmade paper. India also exports it. This paper is used in making university certificates. Asia’s largest handmade paper mill is in Puducherry.
Besides rags, straw of paddy, wheat and maize is also used in making paper

Match Industries:
Match wood industry is one of the oldest wood based industries in India. About 75 per cent of the total match wood industries in the country are located in the state of Tamil Nadu which comprises nearly 6,000 match industries with mechanized, semi mechanized and as cottage industry. The per capita consumption of matches in India increased steadily from 2.45 kg (1970) to 4.25 kg (1987).

The current per capita consumption rose to 6.0 kg which is more staggering. The increasing demand for the matches coupled with declining wood resources is a major bottle neck faced by the entire match industries in India including the ancillary splint and veneer industries. In fact, there was a short fall of 9,00,000 m³in the year 2000. The veneer quality wood for match boxes, which accounts for 44 per cent of match wood used, is also in short supply.

Major Matchwood Species:

Ailanthus excelsa
Albizia falcataria
Alianthus triphysa
Albizia lebbeck
Anthocephalus cadamba
Erythrina Indica
Populus spp.

Silk Industry

There are two stages in silk industry:

Sericulture and obtaining of silk fibres
Production of silk textile from silk fibres (silk textile industry)
Sericulture:It is completely forest based industry. Sericulture is done mainly on the mulberry trees. Besides it, sericulture is also done on the trees ‘like oak, mahua, castor, sal, plum, kusum etc. More than half of the total silk production in the country is done in Karnataka alone. Other major silk producing states are West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand etc. Several kinds of silk are produced in India:
- Mulberry silk-Silk made by sericulture on mulberry trees. It is the best kind of silk. 85% of the silk produced in the country is mulberry silk. It is produced in Karnataka (Bengaluru, Mysore, Kolar and Tumkur districts), West Bengal (Bankura, Murshidabad, Midnapur and Burdwan districts), Jammu & Kashmir and Assam.
- Muga silk-It is also produced by sericulture done on the mulberry leaves. Its production is mostly done in Assam, West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir.
- Tasar silk-It is produced by sericulture done on the wild mulberry trees. The major tasar silk producing states are Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
- Eri silk-It is produced by sericulture done on the leaves of castor. It is a low quality silk.
Silk Textile Industry:

It is indirectly a forest based industry. There are three tendencies of its localisation (in the country):

Raw materials based centres-Mysore, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Srinagar.
Demand based centres in religious places (market based centres)-Varanasi, Tirupati, Madurai, Kanjivaram.
Industries set up at commercial or collection centres- Bhagalpur (Bihar), Erode and Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Mumbai.

Karnataka is the largest producer of silk fibres in India. About half of the silk fibres in the country are produced by Karnataka alone.

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v Timber and Sawn Wood Industries:

Traditionally people in the country predominantly use timber and other converted wood in all their domestic and industrial wood requirement. The rapid Population Growth, Urbanization and industrialization resulted in greater usage of wood in furniture, housing and construction material. During, 2010-2012 more than 500 million square feet of space is estimated to be built in urban areas of the country and the wood products were valued around US Dollar 3 billion.

With greater usage wood as a predominant material for housing and construction material in urban and semi urban areas there is going to be a great demand for timber and other sawn wood requirement. The Indian furniture market is estimated at 8 billion US Dollar and in most cases raw materials are imported from various countries.

v Oil and Biodiesel Industries:

The demand for edible and non-edible oil is continuously on the rise due to industrial and Economic Development. But there is no concomitant effort to augment the production potential of oil seeds in the country. This resulted in a massive import of nearly 46 per cent of edible oil till the recent past thus claiming huge amount of country’s exchequer. Similarly the crude oil requirement in the country is also increasing due to development in transport and Industrial Sector.
Till the recent past the consumption of crude oil was about 184.68 million tones and the rate energy consumption is increasing at the rate of 6.5 per cent per annum. India’s share of crude oil production is about one per cent of total world crude oil production while in consumption its share is about 3.1 per cent of total world consumption which necessitated massive imports of crude oil.

The import of crude oil has increased from 63 per cent in 1971-1980 to nearly about 80 per cent in 2007-2008 which is an alarming issue for the country and warrants development of alternate renewable resources. Under such circumstances, efforts have been taken by various departments of Government of India to promote non edible oil seeds in the country to augment the vegetable oil feed stock to generate biofuel.

Simultaneously large number of private sector oil and biodiesel production industries has been established across the country but for want of sustainable raw material resource availability these industries are under great threat. This facilitated promotion of tree borne oil seeds across the country and their inclusion under farm and agroforestry system.

v Plywood Industries:

One of the fastest growing in India is the plywood industry. The industrialization and urbanization and the increased interest on interior decorations have made great usage of plywood in the country. Wide range of species have been found amenable for making face, core and inner veneers resulted in establishment of more than 2,000 small scale industries involved in plywood manufacture.

The Liberalization-2/”>Liberalization and Privatization policy of government of India also significantly contributed towards establishment of new rural industries. These industries also depend heavily on various species which thereby attracted large scale promotion of plywood based industrial wood plantations.

Forests are one of the most important Ecosystems on Earth. They provide us with a variety of resources, including timber, paper, and fuel. They also play a vital role in the Environment, by regulating the Climate, providing habitat for wildlife, and filtering water.

Forestry is the science, art, and practice of managing forests for human use. It includes activities such as logging, sawmilling, pulp and papermaking, wood products manufacturing, Biomass/”>Biomass energy, forest recreation, and forest conservation.

Logging is the process of cutting down trees and transporting them to a mill. Sawmilling is the process of converting logs into lumber. Pulp and papermaking is the process of converting wood into pulp, which is then used to make paper. Wood products manufacturing is the process of converting wood into products such as furniture, flooring, and doors. Biomass energy is the use of organic matter, such as wood, to produce energy. Forest recreation is the use of forests for activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing. Forest conservation is the protection of forests from degradation and destruction.

Forestry is a vital part of the global economy. It employs millions of people around the world and generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. Forests also play a vital role in the environment. They provide habitat for wildlife, regulate the climate, and filter water.

However, forests are under threat from a number of factors, including deforestation, Climate Change, and pests and diseases. Deforestation is the clearing of forests for other uses, such as agriculture or development. Climate change is causing forests to become drier and more susceptible to fire. Pests and diseases can kill trees and damage forests.

Forest conservation is essential to protect forests from these threats. Forest conservation can be achieved through a variety of methods, including sustainable forest management, reforestation, and forest protection. Sustainable forest management is the practice of managing forests in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Reforestation is the planting of trees in an area where trees have been removed. Forest protection is the act of preventing forests from being damaged or destroyed.

Forests are a valuable resource that we must protect. Forest conservation is essential to ensure that forests continue to provide us with the many benefits they offer.

In addition to the economic and environmental benefits, forests also provide a number of social benefits. Forests provide jobs for people in the forestry industry, and they also provide recreation opportunities for people of all ages. Forests also play a role in the cultural identity of many communities.

Forests are a vital part of our planet, and we must do everything we can to protect them. Forest conservation is essential to ensure that forests continue to provide us with the many benefits they offer.

What are the different types of forest-based industries?

There are many different types of forest-based industries, but some of the most common include:

Logging: This is the process of harvesting trees from forests.
Sawmilling: This is the process of converting logs into lumber.
Papermaking: This is the process of converting wood pulp into paper.
Pulp and paper mills: These mills produce paper, paperboard, and other paper products.
Wood products manufacturing: This includes the production of furniture, flooring, and other wood products.
Forest products research and development: This includes research on new ways to use forest resources and develop new forest products.

What are the benefits of forest-based industries?

Forest-based industries provide many benefits to Society, including:

Jobs: Forest-based industries provide jobs for millions of people around the world.
Economic activity: Forest-based industries generate billions of dollars in economic activity each year.
Tax revenue: Forest-based industries generate billions of dollars in tax revenue each year.
Exports: Forest-based products are a major export for many countries.
Sustainable Development: Forest-based industries can be managed sustainably to provide economic and environmental benefits for future generations.

What are the challenges facing forest-based industries?

Forest-based industries face a number of challenges, including:

Competition from other materials: Forest-based products face competition from other materials, such as plastics and metals.
Changes in consumer demand: Consumer demand for forest-based products is changing, and forest-based industries need to adapt to these changes.
Government regulation: Forest-based industries are subject to a variety of government regulations, which can make it difficult to operate these businesses.
Natural disasters: Forest-based industries are vulnerable to natural disasters, such as wildfires and floods.
Disease and pests: Forest-based industries are also vulnerable to disease and pests, which can damage forests and reduce the supply of wood.

What is the future of forest-based industries?

The future of forest-based industries is uncertain. However, there are a number of factors that could affect the future of these industries, including:

The demand for forest-based products: The demand for forest-based products is expected to increase in the future, driven by Population Growth And Economic Development.
The supply of wood: The supply of wood is expected to decline in the future, due to deforestation and climate change.
The cost of wood: The cost of wood is expected to increase in the future, due to scarcity and competition from other materials.
Government policy: Government policy could have a significant impact on the future of forest-based industries. For example, government policies that promote sustainable forest management could help to ensure the long-term viability of these industries.
Technological innovation: Technological innovation could also have a significant impact on the future of forest-based industries. For example, new technologies that allow for the production of wood products from non-wood materials could reduce the demand for wood and make forest-based industries more sustainable.

Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Forest Based Industries:

Which of the following is not a type of forest?
(A) Tropical rainforest
(B) Temperate rainforest
(C) Boreal forest
(D) Desert forest
Which of the following is not a benefit of forests?
(A) They provide habitat for wildlife.
(B) They help to regulate the climate.
(C) They provide us with wood and other products.
(D) They are a source of recreation.
Which of the following is not a threat to forests?
(A) Deforestation
(B) Climate change
(C) Pollution
(D) Overpopulation
What is the most common type of tree in the world?
(A) Oak
(B) Pine
(C) Spruce
(D) Eucalyptus
What is the largest forest in the world?
(A) The Amazon rainforest
(B) The Congo rainforest
(C) The Taiga
(D) The Boreal forest
What is the most endangered type of forest?
(A) Tropical rainforest
(B) Temperate rainforest
(C) Boreal forest
(D) Desert forest
What is the most common cause of deforestation?
(A) Agriculture
(B) Logging
(C) Mining
(D) Urbanization
What is the most common type of forest product?
(A) Wood
(B) Paper
(C) Pulp
(D) Fuelwood
What is the most common type of forest management practice?
(A) Clear-cutting
(B) Selective cutting
(C) Shelterwood cutting
(D) Seed tree cutting
What is the most common type of forest conservation practice?
(A) Reforestation
(B) Afforestation
(C) Protection
(D) Restoration

I hope these MCQs were helpful!