Rani Forests: Conservation a tough job
© 2000 Times Internet Limited
October 21, 2000
NEW DELHI: Guarding wild life is a tough job. Tougher still if the forests have rich flora and fauna and are in remote areas like the Rani Forests on the Assam-Meghalaya border.
Straddling 160 sq kms, the Rani forests comprises three reserve forests namely the Rani Forest Reserve, the Jarasal Reserve Forest and the Kwasing Reserve Forest, which are a literal gold mine for timber and wild life smugglers.
There have been several instances when the unarmed forest staff living in solitary camps and boats inside the forests had to face the fury of local villagers while preventing the felling of trees, says Shankar Hazarika, assistant conservator of forest, Kamrup (East) division.
Few forest guards also lost their lives in the process, leaving the staff demoralised on many occasions. And so it was till a couple of years ago, when the foresters took it as a challenge to rid the forests of anti-social elements and convert it into a favourite holiday haunt.
Today, their efforts have helped them a great deal. The forests are frequented by visitors and the Rani Forest range has contributed Rs 26 lakh as revenue realised from the sale of seized timber.
Rani takes its name from the Rani (queen) of Khasi hills Syemship, of neighbouring Meghalaya, who used to come to the present Rani village for a customary annual visit to the plains symbolising the association with the people of the plains area.
The forest range now attracts visitors for its unique hills, thick forests and wild animal species. But it has attracted timber smugglers too.
The situation is more manageable now than it was a few years ago, say the officials, adding that modern gadgets should be supplied to the guards to ensure their safety and efficient management of the woods.
The Rani headquarter, says Kushal Chandra Goswami, the forest range officer, was supported by eight beats -- the Chakardeo, Sajjanpara, Hatimaraghuli, Nalapara, Garopara, Sukurbari, Sessa and Sattargaon.
These are manned by a team of 35 forest staff and few personnel of the Assam Forest Protection Forces. Their strength is grossly inadequate under the present day circumstances.
"The forest guards should be equipped with sophisticated weapons and their number increased if protection was to be given to the forest and people," Chandra says.
Goswami, who is credited with having brought about the turn around in the situation, says the Rani Forests were more sensitive as the area has a common boundary with Meghalaya in the south and for about 35 km in the east with the great Garbhanga Reserve Forest.
For the tourists, the area was famous for Khasi Hill and Kamrup type of Sal forest with other valuable timber species as the titasopa, gamari, sida and makai, Goswami said.
The official also says that it was mainly stern action on the part of the department that improved forest management and compliance on the part of villagers in the reserve area.
He recalls an incident when some local villagers had gheraoed his office demanding the release of seized timber that had been felled illegally.
"We made it clear to them that such illegal activities could not continue and although it took some time for them to realise the situation things were brought under control," says forest range officer.
"People fail to realise that being natives, it is they who would stand to lose the maximum if a tree is destroyed and their environs affected," and convincing the locals is going to be a tough job, Goswami adds.(PTI)