Due to cultivation, increase in human habitation, encroachment, smuggling and other causes over the period of time a lot of pressure and stress has been exerted on Agumbe forests popularly known as Chirapunji of Karnataka. The article highlights the causative factors which created the stress and pressure on these pristine forests. The fragmentation of forests in this area, though not known to have resident wild elephants, an incident of straying of an elephant resulting in killing a person was reported. Incidents of crop damage by herds of Sambar and Bison were also reported. The author, through this article calls for reversing the trend of degradation and further fragmentation of forests.
I had worked as Deputy Conservator of Forests, Shivamogga for four years and two months between 1984 and 1988.
Although smuggling of valuable timber species such as teak, rosewood, Nandi, Matthi, Honne etc. and encroachment of forest land in dry deciduous and moist deciduous patches was a major challenge to administration, the destruction of forests in evergreen and semi evergreen patches was hardly noticed. Over the period of time, the expansion of cultivation and human habitation assumed sizable proportion in evergreen and semi evergreen patches as well. On 5th August 2015, I had an occasion to visit Megaravalli Range in Thirthahalli Taluka, to distribute water proof jackets to the front line staff of the Range, a program supported by a media person. I took some time out to visit the forests of Agumbe Range. The place receives highest rain fall in our state and is known as Chirapunji of Karnataka.
The rain forests of Agumbe have come under more pressure. In the original notification issued for Balehalli Reserve Forests in 1918, four scattered houses at Mallandur are mentioned as enclave.
During my visits as Deputy Conservator of Forests, I had observed that nearly 20 houses were available in this enclave, whom is found to have grown to 76 at present and Revenue Department had granted titles to all these 76 families in 2011-12 under Forests Rights Act. It is reported to be the first title for forest dwellers (non-Tribal) granted under the Act. The titles were granted on the basis of statement from 86 years old person living in the enclave and the notification mentioning scattered houses in the hamlet.
Looking into the circumstances, at least 56 families of forest dwellers have been granted titles without completing 75 years, which is not in accordance with the Forest Rights Act and is a big threat to forest conservation in future. The habitation and cultivation in the hamlet have been enlarged, the pressure on the forests and sanctuary have gone many fold.
Attempts are made to draw power line and implement water supply scheme for these scattered houses, which would result in further fragmentation of forests. All roads leading to scattered houses in the forests are now asphalted and are being maintained on a regular basis. On the way to Barkhana falls, in Balehalli Reserve Forests, several patches of this forest are fenced with barbed wire and RCC pillars. The fencing is done to protect the plantations of cane and other miscellaneous species. Because of richness in wildlife, the Balehalli Reserve Forests was added to Someshwara sanctuary in 2012 and movement of wild animals are being noticed in the area, the fencing would obstruct their movement. The purpose for erection of these fences was to protect the plantations. The purpose is now served and the fencing should be removed. Many village cattle were found moving in the forests and infl icting damage to young regenerated plants. Grazing is harmful to forests and still more harmful to sanctuaries. Although the area is not known to have resident wild elephants, but fragmentation of forests have resulted in straying out of an elephant during migration and killing a person in Mallandur on 1st April 2014. Crop damages from Bison and Sambhar herds are also reported in the recent past. We should learn a lesson from these incidences and attempt to reverse the trend of degradation and further fragmentation of forests.
(Written by Mr. B. K. Singh, IFS (retd.), for more details, please download the Karnataka Forest Department's, 'My forest' Journal (September - December 2015), from aranya.gov.in)
