Forest cover good, quality is the problem

SHILLONG, OCT 27: Meghalaya has the highest forest cover which stands at 77 per cent in the country but there is a serious problem when it comes to the quality of forest cover.

This was revealed by Meghalaya forest department’s principal secretary MS Rao during the Special Lecture on “unlocking green opportunities” organized by the Meghalaya Economic Association held at Pinewood Hotel on Monday.

“Out of the 77% forest cover in Meghalaya, only two per cent is ‘very-dense-forest’ and forty five per cent is ‘moderate-forest’, while the rest falls under the category of ‘open-forest’ which is hardly a forest,” Rao stated.

According to him, the quality of the forest cover in the state however is a serious concern.

“We have been trying to protect the forest cover by putting  pre-conditions before any proposed projects to be set up in the state,” Rao said adding the biodiversity act aim at biological reservation to access these resources through fair manner for the people.

Rao also highlighted that “the state also has a stringent set of laws in term of air, water, environment protection and so on.”

Rao, however, was of the opinion that the state has fairly good set of laws but implementation of these laws depends solely with the enforcement, “where the weakness lies”. “We hope to redress this problem very soon,” he said.

Stating his department has made quite a progress on this sector, Rao said, “We have completed mapping of the forest cover in the state, a measure taken for proper management of forests.”

According to Rao, there are various challenges that state is facing in term of poverty and livelihood of the people largely depends on forests.

Meghalaya chief secretary PBO Warjri, who graced the occasion as chief guest, said the state government is very much concern about the environment, loss of aquatic lives due to pollution, deforestation that is going on for so many years.

Faced with quite a few hindrances to workout solutions for such problems, Warjri said, “The government has been conscious on the need to protect environment by launching different green schemes and missions to promote green thinking among the citizens.”

Asserting the importance of active public participation, Warjri said, “The Mission Green of the government is an effort not only just to protect forest but make the people conscious on the option to preserve the environment.”

Stressing on the need of community involvement in the process, Warjri said, “They (traditional community) have played their part in rejuvenating the various natural resources as we see in the “sacred groves”, which is a reflection of the level of consciousness that ancient people have for protecting the environment.”

On the issue of climate change, Warjri said, “The recent flood that hit the state is an unusual one,” adding “It is surprising that the number of deaths are not because of floods alone but two-third have died due to landslides which occurred due to movement of the portion of the hills wiping whatever is on its way.”

“Something is going on in the environment,” Warjri opined even as he informed that the state government has engaged an agency GIZ to take up a study on climate change adaptation to develop options and methods which will protect the environment from the effects of climate change.

Warjri also release a book entitled – “Green Economy in India”, which is first in the country to be contributed  by Dr Natalie West Kharkongor, president of the Meghalaya Economic Association (MEA) along with renowned personalities from India and abroad.

A special lecture on the topic was also presented by the Director Business Development Wildlife Works, San Francisco USA, Rachel O’Reilly.- By Our Reporter