CONSERVATION CHALLENGES

Collection of minor forest produce

Several forest products like fruits, flowers, barks, leaves, dyes, gum, honey, grass, deer antlers, etc are all collected from forests as Minor Forest Produce (MFP) or Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP). Earlier these products were collected for bonafide use of communities, which was probably sustainable. However it is now being collected in India primarily for commercial markets to generate cash incomes.

Such commercial exploitation of MFP makes it unsustainable which has a devastating effect on the forests and wildlife, but these effects might not be very obvious in the short term. Wildlife are progressively deprived of their source of food as they are harvested for human consumption. The methods of collection itself causes severe damage to the eco-system in many cases. Vast areas of forests are burnt to improve visibility to collect deer antlers, whole branches of trees are lopped to harvest myristica or garcinia fruits, cinnamon or machilus tress are debarked which ultimately kills the tree itself. Massive collection of phyllanthus (Gooseberry) fruits for pickles or tendu leaves for making beedies has major impacts on regeneration of these plants.

The collateral damage inflicted on the forests during collection of MFP is a serious concern. Fire is extensively used to collect honey, deer antlers, etc, constant movement of people within the forest disturbs wildlife and often, entry is gained into the interiors of wildlife reserves under the garb of MFP collection. While collection of MFP may be seen as a better option in the Amazonia, it certainly is not the right strategy for conserving wildlife reserves in India.

Other challenges:
>> Progressive loss of habitat
>> Illegal hunting and wildlife trade
>> Commercial exploitation of forests
>> Removal of dead and fallen trees
>> Livestock grazing
>> Fire
>> Unscientific management practices