Forestry in Bangaru Telangana

Forests play a major role in supporting livelihood activities of rural poor and tribals, mitigating the threat of global warming besides, conserving the fertile soil and vulnerable Wildlife. For the year 2015-16, forestry and logging contribution is 0.4 percent to State GVA and 3.3 percent to agriculture & allied sector’s GVA. Forest area in Telangana is 27,292 sq. km. accounting for 24.35 percent of total geographical area. Out of 27,292 sq.km, Reserved Forest area is 19,696.23 sq. km, Protected forest forms 6953.47 sq. km and the rest 642.30 sq. km is unclassified.

In terms of District wise forest cover, Adilabad has largest area under forest, followed by Khammam. However, in terms of percentage area under forest, Khammam stands first with 48.9 percent of total geographical area under forests, followed by Adilabad with 44.9 percent and Warangal with 28.88 percent.

National Forest Policy of India envisages a minimum of 33 percent of the total geographical area under forest/tree cover to maintain environmental stability and ecological balance; that are vital for sustenance of all life-forms including human, animal and plants. The role of forests as carbon sinks endows them added recognition as an important environmental factor. However, except in two districts, area under forest cover is less than desired 33 percent.

Sl. No.	Name of the District	Geographical Area	Forest Area	% of Forest Area to the Total Geographical Area
1	Adilabad	16,105	7,232	44.90
2	Karimnagar	11,823	2,545	21.52
3	Khammam	13,266	6,487	48.90
4	Mahabubnagar	18,432	3,033	16.45
5	Medak	9,699	906	9.34
6	Nalgonda	14,240	837	5.88
7	Nizamabad	7,956	1,812	22.78
8	Rangareddy & Hyderabad	7,710	731	9.48
9	Warangal	12,846	3,710	28.88
Telangana State Total		1,12,077	27,292	24.35

Telanganaku Haritha Haram

Telanganaku Haritha Haram, a flagship programme of the Government, envisages to increase the present 24% tree cover to 33% of the total geographical area of the State.

The thrust areas to achieve the above are two-fold; i) initiatives in notified forest area such as rejuvenating degraded forests, ensuring more effective protection of forests against smuggling, encroachment, fire, grazing etc., ii) major fillip is sought to be given to Social Forestry for achieving the second objective. In the areas outside the notified forest, massive planting activities will be taken up in areas such as; road-side avenues, river and canal bank, barren hill, tank bunds and foreshore areas, institutional premises, religious places, housing colonies, community lands, municipalities, industrial parks, etc. The Telanganaku Haritha Haram programme was launched on 3rd July, 2015.

230 Crore seedlings are proposed to be planted in the State during the next three years. Out of which, 130 crore seedlings are proposed to be planted outside the notified forest area (10 crore within HMDA limits, and the remaining 120 crore in rest of the State). It is also proposed to plant, and rejuvenate the viable rootstock to achieve 100 crore plants inside the forest areas by way of intensive protection of the forests.

The field functionaries of various line Departments have undertaken identification of sites for planting and prepared village Action Plans. The Village Action Plans will be consolidated at Mandal level and finally at the District level to form District Action Plan. At State level, two committees; the State Level Coordination and Monitoring Committee, and the State Level Steering Committee will oversee the progress of the Telanganaku Haritha Haram programme.

Revenue from Forest:

Forest products in the State include timber, bamboo, firewood and charcoal, beedi leaves and miscellaneous. The income accrued from forestry sector in the State is Rs.148.28 crore in 2013-14, Rs.82.08 crore in 2014- 15 and Rs.71.33 Crore in 2015-16 (upto November 2015). Details of revenue realized from various forest produces is given in Table

Table: Revenue realized from Forest Produce (Rs. crore)

Sl. No.	Item	2014-15	2015-16
1	Timber	15.94	9.64
2	Bamboo	5.30	3.92
3	Firewood & Charcoal	0.19	0.03
4	Other Forest Produce	0.04	0.02
5	Beedi Leaves	0.01	-
6	Teak Plants	1.75	-
7	Cashew Plants	0.07	-
8	Red Sanders	-	-
9	Other Plants	0.01	0.26
10	Thinnings	-	-
11	Miscellaneous	58.76	57.45
	Total	82.08	71.33

G.Rajendera Kumar