‘Forests need to be managed on ground, not from office tables’

In its order on February 16, the Supreme Court appointed retired IFS officer VP Mohan, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, as chairman of the committee that will be closely monitoring experimental silviculture felling in three ranges of Paonta Sahib in Sirmour (Sal), Bharari in Bilaspur (Chir) and Nurpur in Kangra (Khair). He has been asked to submit four reports after every six months. Of these, he has already submitted two. Excerpts from an interview: 

Are there reports of illegal felling in various parts of the state which has prompted the SC to bring the entire process of felling of trees and diversion of forest land to a halt till the final order on April 1? 

I have already submitted two reports which are the property of the court. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the issue of court ban on powers given to DFO’s at this juncture as the final court order is still awaited. I have submitted a detailed report to the court which will give its final order on April 1. However, I can assure you that all steps that are required for conserving and protecting forests and ensuring their scientific management will be put in place. Presently also, I am engaged in field visits of forests in Nurpur division so that we can videograph the entire enumeration of trees and compile the entire data of every forest. 

What was the task assigned to you by the SC?

The task assigned to me by the Supreme Court was to bring back sound forest management and protection, which has totally disappeared over the years. Forests need to be managed on ground and not from office tables. The legal status of the forests must be entered into revenue record which has not been done so far in many parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Has the complete ban on green felling helped or proved to be counterproductive?

The ban on green felling imposed has proved to be counter-productive as it hampered regeneration. Rejuvenation can be brought about through silvicluture felling. The task assigned to me by the court was to suggest ways to bring back sound forest management practices and revive forests after a dormancy of 24 long years. 

Don’t you fear that allowing selective felling could lead to forest mafia getting active and more trees being felled than permitted?

Silviculture felling can undertaken only under rigorous control and monitoring and only after a sound forest management regime is put in place.

It is a very exhaustive exercise, which involves 100 per cent enumeration of every tree, including species identification and diameter recording along with putting up of boundary pillars, cleaning, thinning and salvage of dead, dry trees and controlled burning and creation of fire lines, removal of invasive species and weeds like lantana.