January 30, 2011
January 28, 2011
TEAK IS OUR NATURAL MONUMENT
A 500 year old, 38.5-metre-tall teak (Tectona grandis) tree with an astounding 7.75 metre girth is a real wonder. A sight to beholden. A real natural monument. A real GREEN UMBRELLA. Kudos to its protector(s) too.
A NATIONAL MONUMENT
This tree, Teak is a real crowd puller. A few centuries back, it was this species that drew the Europeans to India . The English finally fell for its charm and plundered it for their Royal Navy. A few among the invaders however farmed it. The famous "Conolly's Plot" and "Bourdillon's Plot" are natural reminders of the durability and strength of this wonderful tree species. One can see very wonderful and very stately specimens of teak in these forests and elsewhere. In the modern era too, it remains the paragon of global timbers. In Kerala, every mallu would only be too willing to spare a few bucks to own a piece of teak furniture.
Why then are waiting to declare it as our NATURAL MONUMENT?
A NATIONAL MONUMENT
This tree, Teak is a real crowd puller. A few centuries back, it was this species that drew the Europeans to India . The English finally fell for its charm and plundered it for their Royal Navy. A few among the invaders however farmed it. The famous "Conolly's Plot" and "Bourdillon's Plot" are natural reminders of the durability and strength of this wonderful tree species. One can see very wonderful and very stately specimens of teak in these forests and elsewhere. In the modern era too, it remains the paragon of global timbers. In Kerala, every mallu would only be too willing to spare a few bucks to own a piece of teak furniture.
Why then are waiting to declare it as our NATURAL MONUMENT?
January 23, 2011
January 21, 2011
Sabarimala
This abode of the Lord is now in the news for the wrong reasons. Ironically, the pilgrimage has become quite of a concern from the ecological angle also.
Every forest has a carrying capacity, including the forests which cradle Sabarimala. This place, it is believed, was the domain of very ferocious animals. The presence of predators means there were also a good number of prey species. Better animal diversity signifies a vibrant ecosystem, which must also naturally include a luxuriant diversity of plant species. So, this place once had a lot of "Green Umbrellas' too. The Lord lived along with his numerous creations, big and small. And one of his creations, Man, came walking, once in a while, to pay respects to the creator.
Then, sometime back, man thought he must dominate. He must be alone. He will not walk. He must visit as and when he wished to do it. One of the very basic philosophy of Hinduism is the respect and compassion to be shown towards all of GOD's creations. By clamoring for more "development" projects, aren't we violating these tenets?
As Indians, we boast of an eco-friendly constitution too. It is our fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures. How then does our demand for "opening" up Sabarimala fit the bill?
I don't understand. But I am sure Sabarimala has a carrying capacity and that should be respected. For the good of all of the Lord's creations.
Every forest has a carrying capacity, including the forests which cradle Sabarimala. This place, it is believed, was the domain of very ferocious animals. The presence of predators means there were also a good number of prey species. Better animal diversity signifies a vibrant ecosystem, which must also naturally include a luxuriant diversity of plant species. So, this place once had a lot of "Green Umbrellas' too. The Lord lived along with his numerous creations, big and small. And one of his creations, Man, came walking, once in a while, to pay respects to the creator.
Then, sometime back, man thought he must dominate. He must be alone. He will not walk. He must visit as and when he wished to do it. One of the very basic philosophy of Hinduism is the respect and compassion to be shown towards all of GOD's creations. By clamoring for more "development" projects, aren't we violating these tenets?
As Indians, we boast of an eco-friendly constitution too. It is our fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures. How then does our demand for "opening" up Sabarimala fit the bill?
I don't understand. But I am sure Sabarimala has a carrying capacity and that should be respected. For the good of all of the Lord's creations.
January 11, 2011
The Minister is right again
Mr. Rameshji is speaking some very right things.....False Mindset!
Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom
I remember reading the hardships of Dr. Brandis. This fine forester tried to convince his English masters that co-management is the best option for Indian forestry. In the Indian context, forest is a common property resource, he argued in vain. Dr. Brandis exactly said what Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom said last day. How communities set their own rules and defined the rights of access to common property resources.
More than a century later, while India is exploring ways to get people involved in "joint management" of forests, Mr. Brandis might be really laughing in his grave.
- The prevailing “mindset,” that only the government can manage common property resources, was just as fallacious as the view of some NGOs that only communities can manage these resources.
- The intellectual edifice of legislation governing forests still treats those who depend on forest resources for their livelihoods as criminals.
Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom
- The notion that public officials were the best-equipped to resolve problems of the commons had been proven to be untrue.
- The dominant perception — that common property resources can either be managed by the government or be handed over to private interests — has been questioned.
I remember reading the hardships of Dr. Brandis. This fine forester tried to convince his English masters that co-management is the best option for Indian forestry. In the Indian context, forest is a common property resource, he argued in vain. Dr. Brandis exactly said what Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom said last day. How communities set their own rules and defined the rights of access to common property resources.
More than a century later, while India is exploring ways to get people involved in "joint management" of forests, Mr. Brandis might be really laughing in his grave.
January 9, 2011
Yes, Ministerji
Yes, ministerjee..I do agree with this. Biggest threat to Indian forests
I have been standing with some doubt on this issue from classrooms to classrooms! I admit that this idea that one third of India must be under forest cover has always riddled me.
We have a janatha that is not very serious in curbing its own numbers. Now liberalization has brought in growth and now people has more purchasing power. They want to consume and consume. Even consume land. What forest conservation can such consumers understand?
As foresters, it is a really challenging question that how we can keep all now available forested areas as forests? The tropical regions with its population cannot always hope to go on indefinitely with the process of keeping the lands locked up in the name of conservation.
More than our obsession with increasing the "forested" area (one of my Prof use to joke "in legal parlance, an area even without a blade of grass can be a forest area!), our focus should be on its quality and safe upkeep. Like what the minister said.
I have been standing with some doubt on this issue from classrooms to classrooms! I admit that this idea that one third of India must be under forest cover has always riddled me.
We have a janatha that is not very serious in curbing its own numbers. Now liberalization has brought in growth and now people has more purchasing power. They want to consume and consume. Even consume land. What forest conservation can such consumers understand?
As foresters, it is a really challenging question that how we can keep all now available forested areas as forests? The tropical regions with its population cannot always hope to go on indefinitely with the process of keeping the lands locked up in the name of conservation.
More than our obsession with increasing the "forested" area (one of my Prof use to joke "in legal parlance, an area even without a blade of grass can be a forest area!), our focus should be on its quality and safe upkeep. Like what the minister said.
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