Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force | Odisha
A Natural Resource Management Professional belonging to 1984 batch of IFS he has multi-disciplinary exposure in Geomatics & Information technology. Dr. Tripathi was a member of the Climate Change Subgroup of Government of India. He was part of Government of India delegation in the UNFCCC COP/MOP at Nairobi,2006 and Bali, 2007, and is credited for development of the REDD + policy instrument. He is Member of the Steering Committee of Asia Flux network, Japan. He has done his Ph. D. in evaluation of CDM A&R Projects from FRI University, Dehradun in 2013.
Dr. Tripathi has contributed a lot towards Policy instruments, with enactment of first IT Policy & Biotechnology Policy, Odisha. He was a member of Kasturirangan Committee during 1990s mandated to develop the Data Policy. He is instrumental in development of “Odisha State Data Policy-2015” and establishment of OSDI in the line of NSDI, S&T Dept., Govt. of India. He is a member of the Expert Committee, 2015 constituted by Govt. of India for preparation of “National Geospatial Policy” of the country. He has more than 60 research publications, primarily on Climate Change and application of Remote Sensing and GIS in forest management apart from 4 Books / Chapters to his credit. He is presently PCCF &HoFF, Odisha Forest Department since March’ 2019.
- Landscape-based forest management is a boon to restore our forest areas towards strengthening resilience and enhancing livelihood alternatives for communities as well. Could you highlight the opportunities of the afore-mentioned approach?
The Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) is a novel approach to reverse the trend of forest loss & degradation with enhanced natural resources managementbased livelihood and regaining ecological functionality. The GoI in pursuance of the Bonn Agreement, 2011 & the Paris Accord, 2016 has launched a flagship FLR Project with enhanced capacity to cover 13 mha of degraded & deforested land by 2020 & an additional 8 mha by 2030, the largest in Asia. This calls for a constructive approach moving from threats to the opportunities and linking ideas and political will for monitorable actions. The international policy options like REDD+, sustainable forest management along with restoration of forests, mangroves & related ecosystems only would help to attain freshwater security & food security.
Holistic management of the complex forest ecosystem comprising of soil, flora, moisture, water, and wildlife along with its stakeholders is essential to provide long term livelihood alternatives and quality ecosystem services to the communities. To move in that direction varied landscapes of Odisha e.g., hilly terrain, coastal, plains, dry areas, irrigated areas & wetlands are being managed with such equity based approach. Mass involvement of communities through around 15,000 Vana SanrakhanSamities (VSS) & Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) have been attempted in an effective manner to protect varied landscapes. The recognition& assemblage of adaptive cross-sectoral linkages through various Central & State Schemes, including CAMPA, OMBADS, OEMF and MGNREGS, etc. have resulted in generating a resilient forestry in the State by not only benefitting the dependent forest-fringe population but also reversing the trend of forest loss and degradation.
This is evident from increasing forest cover, density of forest, better moisture regime in forest & adjoining agricultural fields, less forest fires, availability of additional fodder, Minor Forest Produce (MFP), bamboo and small timbers etc. which has significantly contributed to improve livelihood of rural population and economy of the State. Increased output of products and services from forest has provided ample opportunities to rural poor, and herbal, timber and bamboo based industries of varying scale. Further, special focus has been given to conservation and development of Riverside Landscapes through a recently launched Green Mahanadi Mission Programme,2018 with massive public participation in awareness creation and afforestation along the 2 km buffer of all major rivers & distributaries to arrest soil erosion &strive for free and perpetual flow of the rivers of the State.
- Chilika wetland, a Ramsar site conservation has been in the limelight for its conservation efforts. These wetlands are a paradise for nature with immense potential for ecological integrity and sustainable livelihoods. Please comment.
Chilika lake is the largest coastal lagoon on the east coast of India and is a designated Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site under the Convention on Wetlands) since 1981. Hydrological regimes of Chilika are influenced by three subsystems. The Mahanadi distributaries and streams of the western catchment bring in freshwater flows to the lake, whereas the Bay of Bengal contributes highly saline seawater. Ecologically, Lake Chilika is an assemblage of shallow to very shallow marine, brackish and freshwater ecosystems. Maintaining the lake-sea connectivity poses a tremendous challenge due to high annual littoral sediment drift and the Bay being a net contributor of sediments into Chilika. The presence of unique salinity gradient enables the lake to host a wide range of biodiversity which includes 314 species of fish, 224 species of waterbirds (including 97 inter-continental migrants) and 729 species of angiosperms with several of economic value.
Chilika went through a phase of rapid degradation during 1950-2000, owing to increasing sediment loads from catchments and reduced connectivity with the sea. The lake mouth and its inlet reduced significantly, preventing optimum lake sea connectivity. This turned the lake into a freshwater one with drastic reduction in salinity and tidal prism. Its fisheries underwent a major decline, invasive weeds proliferated, and the wetland shrank in area and volume. This had tremendous impact on the livelihood of communities, especially fishermen. Introduction of shrimp culture added further pressure on lagoon ecology and biodiversity along with the reduced productivity affecting the life of 2 million fishermen& dependent communities.
The Government of Odisha created the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) in 1991 for undertaking ecosystem restoration. CDA undertook various ecological restoration measures. The catchment was treated to reduce the sediment load to the lake. But the most significant step was opening of a new mouth for better exchange of lake and sea water and for outward migration for breeding by the lake fishers.
The lake, which was turning into a freshwater lake with lot of invasive weeds got a new lease of life with opening of the new mouth. Recovery of resources led to significantly improvement in livelihoods of dependent communities. The fish yield which had gone down to around 2000 MT per annum by 1999, increased to more than 14,000 MT by 2020. The average annual catch value stands at Rs.150 Crores now, providing livelihood food and nutrition security to the 2 million fishermen. The State has been able to reclaim and evict encroachment made for illegal prawn culture over 160 Sq. km of area. This helped the improvement of ecology of the lake and following immediate changes are manifested:
- More area is available for traditional fishing which has increased the per capita catch of fishermen. There is sudden and unprecedented hike in fish landings after March 2019.
- Dense growth of seagrass and more areas of seagrass meadows. From 84 Sq km of seagrass in 2018, the present area of seagrass is more than 150 Sq km. These are the best spawning grounds of fish and is contributing to the increased fish production.
- The dolphins are seen populating in new areas as the lake is made free from net pen culture. The dolphin population increased marginally and has stabilized at 150 plus.
- With more areas available, there is record congregation of migratory birds for 2019-20 winter season. From less than 7 lakhs of migratory birds, the lake witnessed a record congregation of 11.5 lakhs during last year.
- There is reappearance of sponge after few decades indicating improvement in the ecology of the lake.
- In the light of SDGs 2030, how is the office of Odisha State Forest Department under your stewardship spearheading the implementation of these goals in your good endeavors?
The UN 2015 Resolution “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” has formulated 17 SDGs. The SDG-15 addresses forestry in a broad spectrum with 25 specific targets identified by forestry sector in India for implementation though regionally its relevance depends on their integration in economy & provision of ecosystem services. Government of Odisha is committed to achieve the SDGs with an integrated approach of development plans & conservation. Effective protection regime, satellite based fire mitigation protocol, strengthening of Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme (VSS & EDC) with smart policy options, implementation of massive, highest ever in the history of State, plantation programme, enhanced soil moisture conservation efforts with cross-sectoral linkages and innovative application of geomatic based technology (GPS PDA, android app based mobile sets) are being implemented with a renewed vigor. These all are important subsets of SDGs being natural disaster mitigation, flood, droughts & poverty amelioration. Use of DBT through online payment to staff & forest workers has helped in effective and transparent forest administration in the State. In Odisha more than 40 % population is dependent on forests for their livelihood. Delivery of services through introduction of online TT Permit system, distribution of seedlings at low cost to public in their Gram Panchayats (GPs) / Villages using mobile van, KIOSKS etc. have significantly contributed to improved ecosystem services for natural resourcesbased livelihood options and improved forest biodiversity. The continuous increase in forest cover of the State because of these endeavors has a great bearing on SDG goals of biodiversity conservation, water & food security, poverty reduction and combating climate change impact in State, which otherwise is having deep carbon footprints with mining & rapid industrialization.
- The forest areas of Odisha, known for its rich biodiversity, wildlife sanctuaries and wetland, has increased from 51,345 sq km in 2017 to 51,619 sq km in 2019 as per Indian state of Forests Reports 2019. What initiatives are taken to enhance forest area and support its rich biodiversity, wildlife sanctuaries and wetlands?
Odisha forests are hotbed of rich forests & biodiversity. The State is having singular distinction of having three stretches of mass nesting sites of endangered Olive Ridley Turtles, hosting more than half of its global population. Odisha is the only State to have all three Indian crocodile species. The Simplipal Tiger Reserve is the only natural habitat in the world supporting melanistic tiger population. Odisha is one of the top 5 States in species richness for Trees as per the ISFR 2019.
Odisha has experienced continuous enhancement in the forest area since last two decades in each biennial survey by Forest Survey of India (FSI). Odisha has gained a huge chunk of 925 km2 of Forest & Tree Cover in last two years as per the latest ISFR,2019 followed by gain of 855 km2 in last cycle in 2017 which is a result of proper policy manifestation & implementation backed up by the hard work rendered by the field staff. The most persistent & effective policy imperative has been public community participation in natural forest management through VSS / EDC platform, Odisha having brought the JFM resolution even before the GoI way back in 1988. The success is reflected in the fact that Odisha has 2nd highest extent of Tree Outside Forests (TOF) after Maharashtra. The endeavor is backed up by regular monitoring through State Forest Development Agency and Forest Development Agencies in each forest Division coupled with enhanced afforestation programmes including distribution of seedlings, on forest, public & private land as a measure to boost soil & moisture conservation efforts in forest areas. Effective 24*7satellite based OFMS monitoring & intensified vigil on forest fire incidences and decreased tolerance to forest and wildlife crimes all combined have contributed to enhanced forest cover to serve people of state with increased flow of ecosystem service. Enhanced international/cross sectoral funding enabled to the forestry sector through International funding JICA assisted OFSDP, World Bank assisted ICZMP, CAMPA, MGNREGA, GIM, Ama Jungle Yojana, OMBADC, DMF, OEMF and Corporate Sectors (OMC, MCL, OPGC) etc. have helped in augmenting forest infrastructure, which has supported forest and wildlife conservation initiatives in the State.
- Miyawaki way is often a trusted example of social forestry to turn barren land into forest. In the light of UN Decade of Ecosystem restoration (2021-30), what kind of such endeavors can be implemented on a large scale which also lead a pathway to the country’s commitment of restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030?
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration puts a great challenge to all forestry practitioners to massively scale up restoration efforts by varied & innovative actions in the field. Miyawaki way of plantation is one of the emerging innovative option involving plantation of dozens of indigenous native species plants in close spacing and with assured long-term irrigation, which results in faster growth and denser plantation leading to forest like growth. Planning, timely and adequate funding of plantation under Miyawaki system need to be dovetailed in our planning process. To begin with, in Odisha a pilot plantation following Miyawaki technique has been raised in Malkangiri Forest Division and results are very encouraging. This technique being new, needs intensive training of field workers and constant monitoring of plantation. The technique has great potential to restore biodiversity in degraded forest areas and reduction of our ecological footprints. Special programme of Miyawaki plantations with assured long-term funding all over the Sate are proposed to be launched under State CAMPA for ensuring at least 10-25hectare of plantations on degraded, revenue forest land in the State. It might also envisage to seek for private small or big investments in forestry plantations with higher returns with appropriate smart policy interventions e.g., leasing of degraded land for fixed tenure, soft loans, easy marketing of plantation of products, development of downstream manufacturing units (plywood, furniture) mechanization and diversification of Forest Based Industries to provide forward linkage for better returns. These will also speed up greening of degraded land in the state.
