dhruvrathe

 

Namashkar, friends! Our government is bringing:

They have recently released a draft for it.

Some of the things in the draft are so bad

that they will severely threaten the forests of our country.

It simply means that

our forests are being sold

to big companies and industries.

Let's know what it is.

So, friends our old 1998 forest policy

had a section on rights and concession

and another one on tribal people and forests

All these sections focused on indigenous people ('adivasis')

who live in the forest.

But in the 2018 draft policy

both these sections have been removed.

And three new sections have been introduced.

So you see that the focus of tribals in our forest policy

has been removed

and seizing of forests by industries and plantations

is being promoted.

This says that the productivity of forest plantations

is poor in most states.

They say that the economic benefit

or productivity from these areas is low.

And they have said that, "This will be addressed by

intensive scientific management of forest plantations

of commercially important species.

like teak, sal, polar

and eucalyptus.

The problem here is

that if we only focus on commercial things

only those kind will be grown

and these plants are only grown to accrue profit

They do nothing for the natural ecology of

an area or state.

Like the eucalyptus plants which soak in a lot of water.

In 2016, the Karnataka government said this about the eucalyptus plant,

"The lowering water level in their state

is due to the eucalyptus plants."

So, it's completely wrong that this draft only focuses on profit-making activities.

We should focus on growing trees

that fit with the natural ecology of that area.

Not profit-making machines.

This says that demand for timber and other forest produce

is showing an increasing trend

because of which the economy will continue to grow.

This again, focuses on timber

and how to meet demands for timber.

It says that states would be encouraged

to plant plants like these from which

industries can get wood and timber.

And alas! Indigenous plants are neglected again.

An older report shows that

normal forests

have five times more rate of deforestation

than tribal forests where indigenous people live

We can see that tribal people and forests

have a symbiotic relationship.

This was also mentioned in our 1998 forest policy.

It is important for tribal people and forests to stay together

They both develop together and safeguard each other.

And they also derive their livelihood from forests.

We have seen the same sentiment in the Chipko movement

and you also must have read about this in school

as Joint Forest Management (JFM)

Forest Report 2017 has told us

that forests have increased by 1% than last year

This is good news, you must be happy receiving this news

but what this forest report didn't tell was

that many of these forest converted from being

actual natural forests

to becoming plantations.

Our government counts forests and plantations into the same category

but plantations can't be counted under forests

because plantations are often planted

with commercially-profitable plants

that are usually harmful to the environment

and natural ecology of that area.

So, in reality we don't even know

at what rate are our natural forests being depleted!

This draft policy was created a month ago

by the Ministry of Environement

and then they said that they will be accepting

suggestions on their emails.

But the thing is that

14th April was the last day to give these suggestions.

So, I am late to make this video!

But I'm hopeful that

even if we email them today they might consider our suggestions

So, to make a list of suggestions

I have consulted an environmental activist

who has specified all the changes

in the sections and policies

that will make the draft better!

I have linked the template email

that he has given me.

Please open that template, copy it and email it to these three emails:

These are the emails of Ministry of Environment on which they had asked for suggestions.

I am hopeful that they will take action on our suggestions-

people watching this video from the Ministry of Environment

or those who will read the suggestions.

Because if we really want to save our natural forests

we will need to safeguard them

from all these plantations, companies and industries

and keep them far away from our forests.

Also, rights of tribal people

or 'adivasi' people

are as important as safeguarding our natural forests.

So, friends please write that email and share this video!

And I will now go back home

and leave this jungle

I will meet you all in my next video!

Thank you!