Social Forestry

The National Commission on agriculture, Government of India, first used the term ‘Social Forestry’ in 1976. It was then that India embarked upon a social forestry project with the aim of taking the pressure off the forests and making use of all unused and fallow land. Government forest areas that are close to human settlement and have been degraded over the years due to human activities needed to be afforested. Trees were to be planted in and around agricultural fields. Plantation of trees along railway lines and roadsides, and river and canal banks were carried out. They were planted in village common land, Government wasteland and Panchayat land.

Social forestry also aims at raising plantations by the common man so as to meet the growing demand for timber, fuel wood, fodder, etc, thereby reducing the pressure on the traditional forest area. This concept of village forests to meet the needs of the rural people is not new. It has existed through the centuries all over the country but it was now given a new character.

With the introduction of this scheme the government formally recognised the local communities’ rights to forest Resources, and is now encouraging rural participation in the management of Natural Resources. Through the social forestry scheme, the government has involved community participation, as part of a drive towards afforestation, and rehabilitating the degraded forest and common lands.

This need for a social forestry scheme was felt as India has a dominant rural Population that still depends largely on fuelwood and other Biomass/”>Biomass for their cooking and heating. This demand for fuel wood will not come down but the area under forest will reduce further due to the growing population and increasing human activities. Yet The government managed the projects for five years then gave them over to the village panchayats (village council) to manage for themselves and generate products or revenue as they saw fit.

Social forestry scheme can be categorized into groups : Farm forestry, Community forestry, Extension forestry and agro-forestry.

Farm forestry

It is a term applied to the process under which farmers grows trees for commercial and non-commercial purposes on their farm lands. At present in almost all the countries where social forestry programmes have been taken up, both commercial and non-commercial farm forestry is being promoted in one form or the other. Individual farmers are being encouraged to plant trees on their own farmland to meet the domestic needs of the family. In many areas, this tradition of growing trees on the farmland already exists. Non-commercial farm forestry is the main thrust of most of the social forestry projects in the country today. It is not always necessary that the farmer grows trees for fuelwood, but very often they are interested in growing trees without any economic motive. They may want it to provide shade for the agricultural crops; as wind shelters; Soil conservation or to use wasteland. Farm Forestry is another name for Agroforestry; a part of Social Forestry.

Due to huge requirement of pulpwood for production virgin cellulosic fibre based paper, the pulp and paper Industry has become a major demand driver for certain species of tree such as Eucalyptus, Babul Acacia catechu, Subabul(Leucaena leucocephala) and was the connected Casuarina equisetifolia. As a rough estimate, the total demand for pulpwood is approximately 10 million ADMT (i.e. wood having 10% moisture). Indian Paper Manufacturer’s Association is an umbrella organisation of Indian Pulp and Paper Industry which coordinates and drives plantation efforts by member organisations in India. It is very important to us but on the evil side, it is causing damage to the forest. A full grown up pulp tree takes at least 40 years and gets cut down in 4 mins.

Community Forestry

Community forestry is a village-level forestry activity, decided on collectively and implemented on communal land, where local populations participate in the planning, establishing, managing and harvesting of forest crops, and so receive a major proportion of the socio-economic and ecological benefits from the forest.

Community forestry is a process of increasing the involvement of and reward for local people, of seeking balance between outside and community interests and of increasing local responsibility for the management of the forest resource. Also, like Sustainable Development, community forestry should be a Learning experience for all involved parties.

Extension Forestry

Planting of trees on the sides of roads, canals and railways, along with planting on wastelands is known as ‘extension’ forestry. Extension forestry helps in increasing the boundaries of forests. Under this project, there has been creation of forests on the village common lands, government wastelands and panchayat lands. Schemes for afforesting degraded government forests that are close to villages are being carried out all over the country.

Agro-Forestry

This is the combination of agriculture and tree growing in order to produce both agricultural products and tree products on a commercial basis. The purpose of this scheme is to gain positive interactions between the two systems at both the paddock level and the enterprise level. The two systems may be fully physically integrated, or treated as separate entities within a single business enterprise. It is therefore ideally suited to the landholder seeking to enter farm forestry on a small scale, whilst maintaining an existing agricultural enterprise.

Objectives of Social Forestry

Increasing Forest Area and Restoring Ecological Balance

Moisture conservation: trees take water from the lower soil strata and bring it to the upper layers through long Tap Root system and, also, trees check Evaporation of water; Soil conservation: trees help in checking erosion by wind and water;

Natural habitat conservation:Trees provide habitat to many birds and animals, some of which are agro-friendly.

Meeting Basic Rural Needs

Social forestry satisfies the basic rural needs referred to as ‘five Fs’—food, fuel, fodder, fertiliser (green manure) and fibre. The large-scale depletion of easily accessible forests has resulted in acute scarcity of fuel-wood and fodder. What is disturbing is that the deficit in fuel wood is met by using cow-dung cakes, thus wasting a rich and cheap source of manure.

Table of Contents

Ensuring Better Land Use

Social forestry helps achieve a balanced and viable land use by checking soil erosion, facilitating reclamation of marginal lands, checking waterlogging and by bringing about monolithic integration of forestry, agriculture and Animal Husbandry.

Generation of EMPLOYMENT

Social forestry operations have the potential of improving the employment situation in rural areas especially during the lean agricultural season. This helps in stabilising incomes of weaker sections of Society.

Controlling Pollution

Trees are known to absorb harmful gases and release Oxygen. This way they help reduce Air Pollution especially in urban areas.

Social forestry is a type of forestry that focuses on the needs of people, rather than the needs of the forest itself. It is often used to provide jobs, food, and other resources to local communities. Social forestry can be used to restore degraded forests, or to create new forests in areas that have been cleared for agriculture or development. Social forestry can also be used to protect watersheds and prevent soil erosion. Social forestry is often implemented through community forestry projects, which involve local people in the planning and management of forests. Social forestry can be a sustainable way to manage forests, and it can help to improve the livelihoods of people living in rural areas.

There are many benefits to social forestry. Social forestry can provide jobs and income for local people. It can help to improve Food Security by providing food and fodder for Livestock. Social forestry can help to protect watersheds and prevent soil erosion. Social forestry can help to mitigate Climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide. Social forestry can help to promote Biodiversity-2/”>Biodiversity by providing habitat for wildlife.

However, there are also some challenges to social forestry. Social forestry can be difficult to manage, as it requires the cooperation of many different stakeholders. Social forestry can be expensive to implement, as it requires the provision of Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE and Services to local communities. Social forestry can be controversial, as it can lead to conflict between different groups of people. Social forestry can be unsustainable, if it is not managed properly.

Overall, social forestry is a promising approach to forest management that can provide benefits for both people and the Environment. However, it is important to be aware of the challenges of social forestry before implementing it.

One of the main challenges of social forestry is that it can be difficult to manage. This is because social forestry often involves multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities. It can be difficult to get all of these stakeholders to agree on a common vision for social forestry, and it can be even more difficult to get them to work together to achieve that vision.

Another challenge of social forestry is that it can be expensive to implement. This is because social forestry often requires the provision of infrastructure and services to local communities. For example, social forestry projects may need to build roads, schools, and clinics. They may also need to provide training and support to local people so that they can participate in the management of the forests.

Social forestry can also be controversial. This is because it can lead to conflict between different groups of people. For example, social forestry projects may involve the relocation of people from their homes. This can lead to conflict between the people who are being relocated and the people who are benefiting from the social forestry project.

Finally, social forestry can be unsustainable, if it is not managed properly. This is because social forestry often involves the harvesting of trees. If trees are harvested at a rate that is faster than they can regenerate, then the forest will eventually become depleted. This can have a negative impact on the environment, as well as on the people who depend on the forest for their livelihoods.

Despite these challenges, social forestry can be a successful approach to forest management. When implemented properly, social forestry can provide benefits for both people and the environment. It is important to be aware of the challenges of social forestry, but it is also important to recognize the potential benefits.

What is forestry?

Forestry is the science and art of managing forests. It includes the management of forests for timber production, recreation, watershed protection, and other purposes.

What are the different types of forestry?

There are many different types of forestry, including:

Timber forestry: This type of forestry focuses on the production of timber.
Recreational forestry: This type of forestry focuses on the management of forests for recreation, such as hiking, camping, and fishing.
Watershed forestry: This type of forestry focuses on the management of forests to protect Water Resources.
Environmental forestry: This type of forestry focuses on the management of forests to protect the environment.

What are the benefits of forestry?

Forestry provides many benefits, including:

Timber production: Forests provide a source of timber for construction, furniture, and other products.
Recreation: Forests provide a place for people to enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, and fishing.
Watershed protection: Forests help to protect water resources by filtering runoff and preventing erosion.
Environmental protection: Forests help to protect the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and providing habitat for wildlife.

What are the challenges of forestry?

Forestry faces many challenges, including:

Deforestation: Deforestation is the clearing of forests for other uses, such as agriculture or development.
Forest fires: Forest fires can destroy forests and damage the environment.
Invasive species: Invasive species are Plants or animals that are not native to an area and can harm forests.
Climate Change: Climate change is causing changes in weather patterns that can harm forests.

What is the future of forestry?

The future of forestry is uncertain. The challenges of deforestation, forest fires, invasive species, and climate change are all threats to forests. However, there are also opportunities for forestry to provide sustainable benefits to society. Forests can be managed to provide timber, recreation, watershed protection, and environmental benefits.

Which of the following is not a type of forest?
(A) Tropical rainforest
(B) Temperate rainforest
(C) Boreal forest
(D) Social forest
Which of the following is the main goal of social forestry?
(A) To provide employment for people living in or near forests
(B) To protect forests from deforestation
(C) To increase the amount of wood available for human use
(D) To improve the Quality Of Life for people living in or near forests
Which of the following is not a benefit of social forestry?
(A) It provides employment for people living in or near forests.
(B) It protects forests from deforestation.
(C) It increases the amount of wood available for human use.
(D) It improves the quality of life for people living in or near forests.
Which of the following is a potential problem with social forestry?
(A) It can lead to deforestation if not managed properly.
(B) It can conflict with traditional land use practices.
(C) It can be expensive to implement.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a solution to the potential problem of deforestation associated with social forestry?
(A) Carefully manage the forests to ensure that they are not overharvested.
(B) Involve local communities in the planning and management of the forests.
(C) Provide economic incentives for people to protect the forests.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a solution to the potential problem of conflict with traditional land use practices associated with social forestry?
(A) Involve local communities in the planning and management of the forests.
(B) Compensate people for any losses they incur as a result of the social forestry project.
(C) Provide alternative land use Options for people who are displaced by the social forestry project.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a solution to the potential problem of high cost associated with social forestry?
(A) Use labor-intensive methods of forest management.
(B) Use local materials and labor whenever possible.
(C) Obtain funding from international organizations or governments.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a goal of sustainable forest management?
(A) To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
(B) To protect forests from deforestation.
(C) To increase the amount of wood available for human use.
(D) To improve the quality of life for people living in or near forests.
Which of the following is a principle of sustainable forest management?
(A) Use multiple-use management practices.
(B) Maintain biodiversity.
(C) Protect water resources.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a practice that is consistent with the principle of multiple-use management?
(A) Harvesting timber for commercial use.
(B) Grazing livestock in forests.
(C) Collecting non-timber forest products.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a practice that is consistent with the principle of maintaining biodiversity?
(A) Protecting old-Growth forests.
(B) Restoring degraded forests.
(C) Creating corridors between different forest types.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a practice that is consistent with the principle of protecting water resources?
(A) Avoiding logging in steep areas.
(B) Creating buffer zones around water bodies.
(C) Restoring degraded watersheds.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a potential problem with sustainable forest management?
(A) It can be expensive to implement.
(B) It can be difficult to achieve all of the goals of sustainable forest management.
(C) It can conflict with other land use activities.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a solution to the potential problem of high cost associated with sustainable forest management?
(A) Use labor-intensive methods of forest management.
(B) Use local materials and labor whenever possible.
(C) Obtain funding from international organizations or governments.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a solution to the potential problem of difficulty in achieving all of the goals of sustainable forest management?
(A) Prioritize the goals and focus on achieving the most important ones first.
(B) Use adaptive management, which involves monitoring the results of management actions and adjusting them as needed.