Uttarakhand Government Wants To Cut Down Lakhs Of Chir Pine Trees To Save Forests From Fire!

If the Uttarakhand government has its way, lakhs of chir pines will be cut down in the name of curbing forest fires that have become rampant of late. Foresters in the hill state say have found that the chir, a variety of pine widespread in the lower Himalayas, is responsible for much of the jungle inferno. They are also quick to add that the chir is no good for bio-diversity.

In fact, the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute (FRI) has now been asked to conduct a study of the ecological impact of these trees as the state forest department has readied a proposal to be sent to the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change, seeking removal these trees "wherever they are in large numbers". Once the Union ministry approves this proposal, it will need to be sent to the Supreme Court for final clearance. To remove any trees that are not dry or dead within reserve forests, permission is needed from the apex court. Permission is also needed to cut trees that are above an elevation of 1,000 metres. A few months ago, a proposal was put forward to begin by removing 300 chir trees. No action, however, has been taken on that request.

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Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) SK Chandola told TOI, "Just lopping off 300 chirs would not serve the purpose. The species has spread all over our forests and is damaging our ecology. We plan to cut to the stump, so it does not regrow. We have got ready a proposal which we will send to the Union ministry for approval."

Forest officers gave a figure of "lakhs of chir trees" that would have to be brought down. The Forest Survey of India has found that chir has now taken over 16% of the total 71% forest area of Uttarakhand. That would mean chir tress running in tens of thousands. Chir is now widespread in forest divisions of Tehri, Pauri, Champawat, Almora, Bagheshwar and Pithoragarh. Chir resin offers the state revenue of about Rs 70 crore a year. Even so, chief minister Harish Rawat has been categorical in directing foresters to do away with chir plantations and replace these with the slow-growing oak species.

STS Lepcha, additional PCCF, Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation (UFDC), too, said moves were afoot on this front. "A detailed study would be conducted of the chir pine. UFDC will get FRI to study chir forest areas across the state to get a clear idea of the extent of their presence and their impact," he added. Environmentalists have, however, advised caution. Noted environmentalist Suresh Bhai said he apprehend misuse of the project. "After the Chipko movement, a ban was imposed on cutting of trees in the state, owing to which the forest had become quite dense. The forest department then spoke of scientifically removing trees, that too of chir species, in 1993-94. But it was discovered that chir was not removed and it was trees of other valuable species such as deodar, oak and other green and fruit trees that were blatantly cut by forest staff."

The government, on its part, is convinced that it is doing the right thing. "Pine needles (leaves of the chir) are highly inflammable," said Chandola. "They burn in no time and fires spread fast to large swathes of the forest. Most of the summer forest fires occur because of chir leaves. A carpet of these needles on the forest floor also makes water drain off, adversely affecting soil conservation. These trees do not allow any undergrowth. The needles are not edible; the tree does not produce anything that herbivores can eat. The expansion of this species thus affects the availability of food for wild animals too."

(Originally published in The Times of India)