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Problems, Issues &
Programmes
Forest degradation
Almost entire area of forests
of the state has been subjected to severe degradation.
During survey of forest resources in the state by FSI in
1989, it is shown that majority of forest areas (up to
72.73%) are heavily to moderately degraded.
The forest cover in Tripura is 67.4 %
of the geographical area according to the latest Assessment
by the Forest Survey of India which has categorised the
forests in to two major conopy density classes as : 33%
dense forest (>40% density) & 34.4% as open forest (10 to
40% density). The details of forest cover classification in
different years are as detailed below:
|
Assessment year |
Very Dense Forest (km2) |
Dense forest (above 40%
density) |
Open forest (km2)
(40% – 10% density) |
Total (km2) |
|
1989 |
- |
1214 |
4111 |
5352 |
|
1991 |
- |
1825 |
3710 |
5535 |
|
1993 |
- |
1819 |
3719 |
5538 |
|
1995 |
- |
1819 |
3719 |
5538 |
|
1997 |
- |
1819 |
3727 |
5546 |
|
1999 |
- |
2228 |
3517 |
5745 |
|
2001 |
- |
3463 |
3602 |
7065 |
|
2003 |
58 |
4988 |
3047 |
8093 |
There
has been no substantial change in forest cover in the State
between 1989 and the 1995 as per assessment, even though
60,970 ha (609.70Km2)
of plantation was raised in the State during 1989-1995. The
1993 Assessment recorded an increase of 9 km2 in
the open forest
category, along with a decrease of 6 km2 in
the dense forest category. The transfer of larger area under
open category signifies large-scale degradation of forests
in the intervening period. As per 1999 assessment though
there has been increase on overall forest cover although an
area of 206 km2 of
dense forest has been transferred to open forest category,
thereby partly offsetting the increase of 405 km2
dense forests. As per 2001 assessment report there has been
an increase of 1320 km2, showing an increase in
dense forests by 1235 km2 whereas open forests
have increased by 85 km2. Dense forests
constitute 33% of the geographical area whereas 34.4% area
is under open forests. As per 2003 assessment, an area of
58 km2 is ranked as very dense forest. Moreover,
there has been improvement in open forests getting converted
to dense forests (497 km2). Overall increase in
forest cover has been to the tune of 1028 km2.
The figure of dense forest
cover though higher than the national average of 12.68%, is
comparative to the average for the North-East (34.84%).
During the past few years there is the trend of reversal in
degradation. And though the area of dense cover has
increased, yet the area under open forests has also
increased reflecting degradation.
While the forests of Tripura have been under systematic
management for past fifty years, this fragile resource base
has been shrinking due to various anthropogenic disturbances
resulting in degradation which is directly affecting the
ecological stability, biological diversity, economic
viability & environmental security of the state. The main
problems /issues in this regard are as follows:
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