Forest of West Bengal | van sahayak |History of Forest management in West Bengal |Biodiversity of West Bengal

 Forests of West Bengal

The forests of West Bengal have wide variations. There are many sanctuaries. Some notable sanctuaries are mentioned in this page. Forests are strewn across the state: from the northernmost tip, on the slopes of the high Himalayas, to the Dooars in the foothills, through several lesser-known forests; in the western tracts of the state and the fertile Gangetic plains, on to the magnificent Sunderban on its southern edge. These cover 1532% of the state, comprising 11,879 sq kms, of which 7,054 sq kms are reserved forests. 3,772 sq.km. is Protected Forest and 1,053 sq.km. is Unclassed State Forest, thus constituting 13.38% of the geographical area of the state. The forest cover including the forests created outside the recorded forest area is 15.52% of the geographical area as assessed by the GIS Cell of the W.B. Forest Department in the year 2004 on the basis of Satellite Imagery procured from NRSA, Hyderabad in digital data format. While computing the forest cover of the State the protocol developed by RRSSC, Kharagpur under Dept. Of Space, GOI, NRSA, Hyderabad in earlier studies was followed. Estuarine water bodies like rivers & creeks in mangrove forest and river flowing through the recorded forest land in Jalpaiguri have been included while computing the forest cover. Similarly large portions of farm forestry plantation, raised outside forest land, having forest like micro ecosystem, have been enumerated as forest cover. The vegetation cover of the state is around 27% of the geographical area. The vegetation cover includes village orchreds / groves, tea garden and horticulture plantations.

Forest in West Bengal

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Classification of Recorded Forest Land (Legal status):

Reserved Forest : An area notified under the provisions of Indian Forest Act or State Forest Acts having full degree of protection. In Reserved Forests all activities are prohibited unless specifically permitted.

Protected Forest : An area notified under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act or State Forest Acts having limited degree of protection. In Protected Forest all activities are permitted unless prohibited.

Unclassed Forest : An area recorded as forest but not included in Reserved or Protected forest category. Ownership status of such forests variys from state to state.

Forest Management 

The history of management of forests in West Bengal dates back to people who looked at all creatures with compassion. The forest areas were large and people less in number. Sages lived in these jungles and imparted training and spiritual enlightenment. The pressure on forests increased considerably later. The increasing population with changing morals led to destruction of Forests. After independence the Government of India in different policy proclamations, realized the importance of green vegetation for sustenance of humanity. Since 1922, broadly two management practices w er e followed in forestry in West Bengal. A system of clear-felling and thereafter artificial regeneration through taungya (Agri-Silviculture) was followed for forests of sub¬ Himalayan tract comprising of Jalpaiguri district and Siliguri sub-division of Darjeeling district. The main species was Sal (Shorea robusta) mixed with associates Terrninalia spp, Chukrassia spp. etc. The lateritic tract comprising of the districts of Purulia, Medinipur, Bankura, Birbhum and part of Burdwan districts contained 38% of the state's forest land. The main species was Sal with associates of Madhuca latifolia, Diospyros melanoxylon etc. Management system followed was simple coppice system. Forests were scattered and interspersed with blank forest land and also private farmland. Around 1960, Government of India invited Dr. J. Von Monroy, a FAO expert in forest industries to study the country's raw material resources for industries. He recommended raising plantation of quick growing species such as Eucalyptus. The Government accepted the recommendation to supply raw material to wood-based industries. This was the beginning of introduction of eucalyptus hybrid with associates like Akashmoni (Acacia auriculforrnis) and Minjiri (Cassia siamea) in lateritic tracts of West Bengal. Other states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala also followed this trend. The National Commission on Agriculture recommended social forestry in the mid-seventies, it got real boost in West Bengal from 1981. The IDA supported West Bengal Social Forestry Project initiated a new approach to deal with problem of biotic interference on forest land. In the initial years the foresters, having very little experience of south West Bengal, started raising plantations of traditional species in the denuded areas. Stress was given on Sal, piasal, paccasaj, mohuland kend. To improve the moisture content of soil, contour trenching at regular intervals and even annular trough on the upper slope side of the pits were dug, and 'donga' planting done. But because the species were mostly slow growing and protection from cattle and fire could not be given for years, most of such plantations failed. Subsequently a great change h a d come up in forest and forestry management for protection a n d development of the south West Bengal Forests, where Forest Protection Committees (FPCs) were formed following Arabari experimentation. The reorganization of forest areas were done to coincide with the Government or Panchayat units and sub-units for quick handling of participatory management problems with people and government staff at different levels. This not only helped in solving management problems but almost allthe degraded forests in south West Bengal in districts of Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Burdwan andBirbhum were rejuvenated.More than 4000 ha of such forests came up with participation of people. In1995 for the first time the FPCmembers became eligible for revenue sharing in south WestBengal. This distribution of usufruct to the villagers was unique inthe historyof any state Government and the project took firmroot in theminds of the people of WestBengal. Howeverthescheme introduced in North Bengal was indifferent form as thesewerevery goodforest areaswithmatured Sal and othermiscellaneous trees. These areaswere kept outside the purview of the project. Therefore participatory management was the only ready option available to the Forest Department. Improvements in fields of wildlife research and management were also noticed. Management Plans were written for individual protected areas. Wildlife squads were formed to mitigate man-animal conflict. In capturing big carnivores and herbivores chemical tranquilization was resorted to. Translocation after their tranquilization reduced chances of casualty. Introduction of computers in offices at all levels and amongst field staff have been found to be very useful by the department especially for budgeting, accounting and for regular submission of various reports and returns to the state and central governments as their timely and prompt submission is essential for various projects and for release of fund. Today with increasing human population, growing industrialization and waste generation, the challenge is to determine ways and means of ensuring that biodiversity conservation is an integral part of forest management.

Forest Management

Biodiversity of West Bengal

From the famous Royal Bengal tiger that stalks its prey with legendary cunningness in the Gangetic delta of famous Sundarbans, to the one-horned Indian Rhinoceros grazing in the Terai grassland, the leopards lurking in the foothills of the Himalayas and Red Pandas resting in bamboo groves of Himalayas .The forests of this state has a rich assemblage of diverse habitats and vegetation designated with the help of eight different forest types. The diverse fauna and flora of West Bengal possess the combined characteristics of the Himalayan, sub-Himalayan and Gangetic plain. Diversity is further reflected in different types of ecosystem available here like mountain ecosystem of the north, forest ecosystem extending over the major part of the state, freshwater ecosystem, semiarid ecosystem in the western part, mangrove ecosystem in the south and coastal marine ecosystem along the shoreline. 

Royal Bengal Tiger

One horned rhino at gurumara national park

Forests of West Bengal

• Arabari

• Baikunthapur Forest

• Bankura Forest

• Chilapata Forests

• Sundarbans

National parks in West Bengal

• Buxa Tiger Reserve

• Gorumara National Park

• Jaldapara National Park

• Neora Valley National Park

• Singalila National Park

• Sundarbans National Park

Wildlife sanctuaries in West Bengal

How many sanctuary are there in West Bengal?

• Adina Deer Park

• Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary

• Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary

• Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary

• Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary

• Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary

• Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary

• Jaldapara National Park

• Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary

• Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary

• Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

• Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary

• Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary

• Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary

• Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary

• Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary

• Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary

History of Forest management in West Bengal

West Bengal Forestry has a proud past and now enters 150 years of scientific forestry. The History relates to pre independence and post-independence era. In 1840, the British colonial administration promulgated an ordinance called Crown Land (Encroachment) Ordinance. This ordinance targeted forests in Britain's Asian colonies, and vested all forests, wastes, unoccupied and uncultivated lands to the crown. The Imperial Forest Department was established in India in 1864. British state's monopoly over Indian forests was first asserted through the Indian Forest Act of 1865. This law simply established the government’s claims over forests. Sir Dietrich Brandis, who joined British Service in 1856 and Dr. Hugh Cleghorn, the man behind the mobilization of opinion leading to the introduction of systematic management in the Indian forests, were jointly appointed the first Inspectors General of Forests in India in 1864. Sir Brandis, the father of the Scientific Forestry Regime in India, continued his ground-breaking work of forestry administration in India. The Indian Forest Act, 1865, was passed by the colonial government to provide legislative back-up to the upcoming forestry regime.

AJC Botanic garden

The first national forest policy had been announced in 1894. During the decade of the 1950s, a new Forest Policy was formulated in 1952. The national interests of defence and industries were given priority. It also stated that one-third of the total land should be brought under forests. Concept of sustained yield and conservation management continued. The Estate Acquisition Act was promulgated in 1953. Through this Act the forests of south West Bengal (lateritic tract) under private (zamindar) ownership became vested to Government and were given to the Forest Directorate for management. Around 1960, Government of India invited Dr. J. von Monroy, a FAO expert in forest industries to study the country's raw material resources for industries. He recommended raising plantation of quick growing species such as Eucalyptus. During the 1970s, some new laws and policies were introduced. ln West Bengal, concept of preservation of wild life and its habitat was well established since the 1940s. Sanctuaries of Senchal, Jaldapara, Gorumara and Chapramari were notified for this purpose. With promulgation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the preservation of floral and faunal biodiversity got high importance and got statutory support during this decade.

Jaldapara national park

Forestry was State subject under Constitution of India till 1976. By an amendment to the Constitution of India in 1976, Forests became a Concurrent subject. Thus both Union Parliament and State Legislature have jurisdiction to regulate forests. The National Commission on Agriculture submitted its report on Forestry in 1976. Two interim reports came before that. One report dealt with social forestry the other report dealt with manmade forests of commercial value. In order to get institutional finance and for rapid conversion of forests, Forest Development Corporations were created in all states of India including in West Bengal. The West Bengal Forest Development Corporation thus started functioning from 2.11.2074 on forest land in Darjeeling hills leased out by the Forest Department of this state.

The West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973 introduced three-tier system of Panchayat in the state. The Panchayat bodies took up work to motivate and educate local committees on forestry activities. These Panchayat bodies had great contribution in successful implementation of social forestry and Joint Forest Management (JFM) in the later decades.

The 1980s were very eventful. The Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980 came into force. This was amended in 1981. The most important provisions inter alia, were that no forest land could be cleared of trees which have grown naturally in that land. Deviations could be permitted with prior approval of central Government. The FCA 1980 is a very stringent and effective law. Due to this Act, deforestation for revenue or for local development projects sometimes under local political pressure could be checked to a great extent. Though the National Commission on Agriculture recommended social forestry in the mid-seventies, it got real boost in West Bengal from 1981. The IDA supported West Bengal Social Forestry Project initiated a new approach to deal with problem of biotic interference on forest land. The idea was to grow trees by villagers on their own land lying unproductive. Forest Directorate distributed seedlings free of charge to farmers for planting trees.

The West Bengal Forest School, Dowhill established in 1907 to impart in-service training to foresters of this state, was expanded in 1980s. Imparting forestry knowledge to Forest Guards was also felt necessary and therefore a Forest Guard Training Centre was opened at Jhargram on 24.07.1984.

Jhargram deer park

Another highlight of this decade was formulation of the National Forest Policy, 1988. It outlined for the future a new strategy of forest conservation and maintenance of natural environment. It gave strategies on matters of afforestation, social forestry, management of state forests and the rights and concession of tribals etc. It contained new provision of restriction of felling of natural forests, development and protection of forest and meeting the need of forest fringe dwellers. As of 2015, recorded forest area in the state is 16,828 km2 (6,497 sq mi) which is 18.96% of the state's geographical area, compared to the national average of 21.34%. Reserved, protected and unclassed forests constitute 59.4%, 31.8% and 8.9%, respectively, of the forest area, as of 2015.

People Ask Question:--

1.How many forests are there in West Bengal?

Ans.- 6 forests

2.What is the percentage of forest in West Bengal?

Ans.- 13.38%

3.Which type of forest is maximum in West Bengal?

Ans.- Mangrove forests

4. Which is the biggest national park of West Bengal?

Ans.- Sunderban national park

5. What is the Tiger Reserve in West Bengal called?

Ans.- Buxa Tiger Reserve