Forests play a pivotal role in sustaining the ecological balance of our planet, serving as habitats for diverse flora and fauna while also providing essential resources for human livelihoods. Recorded forest area, comprising designated forest lands under governmental supervision, represents a crucial metric for monitoring the extent and health of forest ecosystems. Beyond these designated areas, trees outside forests (TOF) significantly contribute to environmental health, ranging from urban greenery to agricultural landscapes, enriching biodiversity and mitigating climate change effects. However, with increasing anthropogenic activities and climate change impacts, the susceptibility of these ecosystems to fire has become a pressing concern, posing threats to both biodiversity and human settlements. Amidst these challenges, mangrove cover emerges as a critical focus due to its unique ecological significance, serving as buffer against coastal erosion, nurturing diverse marine life, and offering resilience against extreme weather events. Understanding and effectively managing recorded forest area, trees outside forests, fire proneness, and mangrove cover are imperative for safeguarding global biodiversity and ensuring sustainable development.
RECORDED FOREST AREA
- Forest Area, also known as recorded forest area, includes all geographical regions officially designated as forests in government records.
- This category encompasses Reserved Forests (RF) and Protected Forests (PF) established under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
- Additionally, the recorded forest area may encompass any regions documented as forests under State Acts, local laws, or recorded in revenue records.
TREES OUTSIDE FOREST
- Trees Outside Forests (TOF) encompass all trees that thrive beyond the demarcated boundaries of recorded forest areas (RFAs), irrespective of the size of the tree patches, which might extend beyond the minimum requirement of 1 hectare.
- In essence, TOF includes trees found outside areas officially designated as forests in governmental records.
FOREST FIRE
- The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has introduced the National Action Plan on Forest Fires, 2018, with the primary objectives of informing, enabling, and empowering forest fringe communities.
- The plan incentivizes collaboration between these communities and State Forest Departments (SFDs) while aiming to significantly reduce vulnerabilities to forest fires across diverse ecosystems in the Indian subcontinent.
- It also focuses on enhancing the capabilities of forest personnel and institutions, integrating technology, and expediting recovery post-fire events.
- According to a long-term trend analysis by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), approximately 10.66% of the forest cover in India falls within the extremely to very highly fire-prone zone.
- States in the North-Eastern Region exhibit the highest tendency for forest fires, placing them in the extremely to very highly forest fire-prone zone.
- Specifically, states like Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur in the North-Eastern region demonstrate the highest probability of forest fires based on the frequency of occurrences.
- Additionally, certain areas in Western Maharashtra, the Southern part of Chhattisgarh, the Central part of Odisha, and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka display patches identified as extremely and very highly fire-prone zones.
MANGROVE COVER
Mangroves:
These plant communities thrive in the salt-tolerant environments of tropical and subtropical intertidal regions worldwide. Mangrove species showcase various adaptations in their morphology, anatomy, and physiology to endure waterlogged soils, high salinity, and frequent cyclonic storms and tidal surges.
Significance of Mangroves:
- Protection Against Extreme Events: Mangroves serve as crucial refuges for coastal biodiversity and function as bio-shields against severe climatic events.
- Coastal Protection: Their intricate root system efficiently dissipates sea wave energy, safeguarding coastal areas from tsunamis, storm surges, and soil erosion. This protective role gained prominence after the devastating Tsunami of 2004.
- Water Flow Regulation: Mangrove roots slow down water flows, enhancing sediment deposition. This action aids in land accretion by trapping fine sediments, including heavy metal contaminants, while preventing coastal erosion and seawater pollution.
- Biodiversity Hub: Mangroves provide fertile breeding grounds for numerous fish species and other marine fauna.
- Livelihood Support: Coastal communities depend on mangroves for their livelihoods, engaging in activities such as honey collection, tannin extraction, wax harvesting, and fishing.
- Carbon Sinks: Mangroves play a crucial role as carbon sinks, contributing to the sequestration of carbon dioxide.
Threats to Mangroves:
- Biotic Pressure and Natural Calamities: Mangrove ecosystems face negative impacts due to biotic pressure and natural disasters.
- Human Activities: Growing land reclamation for agriculture and industrialization, along with the discharge of untreated domestic sewage and industrial effluents, poses a threat to these vital forests.
- Upstream Effects: Activities related to river training, natural erosion, and accretion affect mangrove health. Adequate ecological flow in rivers is essential for flushing mangroves of silt and other wastes.
Conservation Efforts:
According to the Champion & Seth Classification (1968), Mangroves fall under Type Group-4 Littoral & Swamp Forests. Recognizing their importance, the Government of India established the National Mangroves Committee in 1976 to advise on the conservation and development of mangroves in the country.
Global and Indian Mangrove Status:
- As per the Global Forest Resource Assessment, 2020 (FRA 2020), 113 countries worldwide have mangrove forests covering an estimated 14.79 million hectares.
- The largest mangrove areas are reported in Asia, followed by Africa, North and Central America, and South America.
- Oceania reports the smallest mangrove area.
- Over 40% of the total mangrove area is concentrated in Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, and Mexico.
Mangrove Cover in India:
- The mangrove cover in India is 4,992 sq km, representing 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area.
- Notably, there is a positive increase of 17 sq km compared to the 2019 assessment.
- States such as Odisha and Maharashtra demonstrate significant gains in mangrove cover.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1: What is the Recorded Forest Area?
A1: The Recorded Forest Area, also known as Forest Area, encompasses all regions officially designated as forests in government records. This includes Reserved Forests (RF) and Protected Forests (PF) established under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, along with areas recorded as forests under State Acts, local laws, or revenue records.
Q2: What categories fall under the Recorded Forest Area?
A2: Categories under Recorded Forest Area include Reserved Forests (RF), Protected Forests (PF), and any areas documented as forests under State Acts, local laws, or recorded in revenue records.
Q3: What does Trees Outside Forest (TOF) refer to?
A3: Trees Outside Forest encompasses all trees growing beyond the demarcated boundaries of Recorded Forest Areas (RFAs), regardless of patch size, even if exceeding the minimum requirement of 1 hectare.
Q4: How is TOF different from Recorded Forest Area?
A4: While Recorded Forest Area includes officially designated forest regions, Trees Outside Forest refers to trees thriving beyond these designated boundaries, irrespective of size.
Q5: What is the National Action Plan on Forest Fires?
A5: The National Action Plan on Forest Fires, introduced in 2018 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), aims to revamp forest fire management. It focuses on informing, enabling, and empowering forest fringe communities, incentivizing collaboration with State Forest Departments, and reducing vulnerabilities to forest fires.
Q6: Which regions in India are highly prone to forest fires?
A6: According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI), approximately 10.66% of India’s forest cover is in the extremely to very highly fire-prone zone. States in the North-Eastern Region exhibit the highest tendency for forest fires, including states like Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur.
Q7: What are the key functions of Mangroves?
A7: Mangroves serve as crucial refuges for coastal biodiversity, act as bio-shields against extreme climatic events, regulate water flow, provide breeding grounds for marine fauna, and support livelihoods. They also play a crucial role as carbon sinks.
Q8: What threats do Mangroves face?
A8: Mangroves face threats from biotic pressure, natural calamities, human activities such as land reclamation, and discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents. Upstream effects from river training and natural erosion also impact mangrove health.
Q9: How is Mangrove cover assessed in India?
A9: Mangrove cover in India is assessed periodically, and the latest assessment reports a cover of 4,992 sq km, representing 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area. Notably, there is a positive increase of 17 sq km compared to the 2019 assessment, with states like Odisha and Maharashtra showing significant gains.
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