Landscapes from Purulia - Ajodhya Hills, Upper Dam
Upper Dam of The Pumped Storage Hydel Power Project
Ajodhya Hills, is a small plateau with hilly surroundings located in the Purulia district of the state West Bengal, India. It is the easternmost part of the Chhotanagpur Plateau and extended part of Eastern Ghats range.
West Bengal is one of the few states of India where per capita forest area is the lowest and density of population around fragmented forests is the highest. 13.38% area of the state is covered by forest, which is much less from the ideal national target of 33%.
The forest area occupies 12% geographical area of the Purulia District but it is too much fragmented. Highest concentration of forest area has been found in Bundwan Block (38.77%), followed by Bagmundi, Puncha and Manbazar I Block. Only 181 sq km may be considered as dense forest where canopy density is 40 % or more, another 426 sq km had been categories as open forest with canopy density ranges between 10% to 40%.
The District is the habitat of native Austro-Dravidian people from Neolithic period. Scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population together comprises 37.83% of the District total population. Due to the higher concentration of forest-dependent scheduled tribe population dependency on forest for food, fodder, fuel, fertilizer, house building materials and medicines are high in the District.
Illicit collection of fuel wood, fodder, small timber, medicinal plants and non-timber forest products by the villagers of forest fringe areas and the tribal people for domestic and commercial purposes is a key reason of forest degradation.
Sustainable livelihood is obviously associated with environmental conservation. Sustainable forest management, a harmonious balance between conservation of forests and development of forest dependent communities through livelihood security leads to the sustainable rural livelihood. With the adaptation of large scale social/farm forestry projects, along with land reforms and afforestation programme in the area, hopefully the area may convert into healthy forest land in near future.
Arindam Roy, Sourav Mukherjee (2018) International Journal of Management and Social Sciences Research Volume 7, No. 4, April 2018
Images of Bengal, India
Bengal forest department will conduct its maiden project to spread Seed Balls in the arid regions of the state from July 14, 2019. The first project will be in the Kotsila forest range under Purulia forest division. Later, the experiment would be extended to the Ayodhya Hills which is also situated in Purulia district.
In dry or arid areas, where there is less availability of water, normal sapling plantations often fail. Charcoal powder is mixed with soil and made into small balls and in each ball there will be three small seeds. Charcoal acts as compost. The clay keeps the seeds moist as they germinate, the compost nourishes them as they grow, implanting themselves in the soil. This process is known as Associated Succession.
The Bengal forest department is using seeds of Sonajhuri, Neem, Jamul, Tamarind, Bael, Dates, etc. to make the seed balls. Bengal is trying to replicate Karnataka’s famous Bandipur Tiger Reserve experience where seeds balls have been spread and fresh green cover has been generated successfully by the forest department.
Bengal to Start Pilot on Seed Balls Dispersion
July 8, 2019 Sneha Verma
Landscapes from Purulia - Ajodhya Hills, Upper Dam
Upper Dam of The Pumped Storage Hydel Power Project
Ajodhya Hills, is a small plateau with hilly surroundings located in the Purulia district of the state West Bengal, India. It is the easternmost part of the Chhotanagpur Plateau and extended part of Eastern Ghats range.
West Bengal is one of the few states of India where per capita forest area is the lowest and density of population around fragmented forests is the highest. 13.38% area of the state is covered by forest, which is much less from the ideal national target of 33%.
The forest area occupies 12% geographical area of the Purulia District but it is too much fragmented. Highest concentration of forest area has been found in Bundwan Block (38.77%), followed by Bagmundi, Puncha and Manbazar I Block. Only 181 sq km may be considered as dense forest where canopy density is 40 % or more, another 426 sq km had been categories as open forest with canopy density ranges between 10% to 40%.
The District is the habitat of native Austro-Dravidian people from Neolithic period. Scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population together comprises 37.83% of the District total population. Due to the higher concentration of forest-dependent scheduled tribe population dependency on forest for food, fodder, fuel, fertilizer, house building materials and medicines are high in the District.
Illicit collection of fuel wood, fodder, small timber, medicinal plants and non-timber forest products by the villagers of forest fringe areas and the tribal people for domestic and commercial purposes is a key reason of forest degradation.
Sustainable livelihood is obviously associated with environmental conservation. Sustainable forest management, a harmonious balance between conservation of forests and development of forest dependent communities through livelihood security leads to the sustainable rural livelihood. With the adaptation of large scale social/farm forestry projects, along with land reforms and afforestation programme in the area, hopefully the area may convert into healthy forest land in near future.
Arindam Roy, Sourav Mukherjee (2018) International Journal of Management and Social Sciences Research Volume 7, No. 4, April 2018
Images of Bengal, India
Bengal forest department will conduct its maiden project to spread Seed Balls in the arid regions of the state from July 14, 2019. The first project will be in the Kotsila forest range under Purulia forest division. Later, the experiment would be extended to the Ayodhya Hills which is also situated in Purulia district.
In dry or arid areas, where there is less availability of water, normal sapling plantations often fail. Charcoal powder is mixed with soil and made into small balls and in each ball there will be three small seeds. Charcoal acts as compost. The clay keeps the seeds moist as they germinate, the compost nourishes them as they grow, implanting themselves in the soil. This process is known as Associated Succession.
The Bengal forest department is using seeds of Sonajhuri, Neem, Jamul, Tamarind, Bael, Dates, etc. to make the seed balls. Bengal is trying to replicate Karnataka’s famous Bandipur Tiger Reserve experience where seeds balls have been spread and fresh green cover has been generated successfully by the forest department.
Bengal to Start Pilot on Seed Balls Dispersion
July 8, 2019 Sneha Verma