Question

The state which has attained the dubious distinction of being a topper in the list with the highest encroachment of forest land is
A) Bihar
B) Andhra Pradesh
C) Haryana
D) Punjab

Answer 1

Hint:Forest encroachment is unauthorized use of forest produce and diversion of such forest land to non-forest land use/ cover practices. The state with the highest encroachment of forest land has derived its name from the Sanskrit word, which means "the Abode of God".

Complete answer:
Recognizing the significance of encroachment in forest degradation, the National Commission on Agriculture (1976) had defined forest encroachment as unauthorized use of forest produce and diversion of such forest land to non-forest land use/ cover practices including jhumming.

The state which has attained the dubious distinction of being a topper in the list with the highest encroachment of forest land is Haryana.

The two major factors stimulating encroachment of forest land are the Population pressure and Poverty.
Forests provide new areas for agriculture and a range of products for livelihood. As the population is increasing, more families are searching the land for agriculture or looking for fuelwood or timber. A larger number of people also means the availability of more labour for agricultural activities.

Forest encroachment causes forest degradation, which results in land degradation, and this leads to agricultural stagnation and even declining productivity, which in turn stimulates further encroachment and completes the dangerous cycle. Various development initiatives of the government (like the construction of Kaptai hydroelectric dam, Bangladesh Airforce base, roads and highways etc.) straight away lead to the conversion of forestland.

The inefficiency of the Forest Department as well as lack of effective integration of local people in forest management increases encroachment. Open market economy often fails to realize the complete benefit of the forest and encourages the realization of it. Thus, it encourages the conversion of forestland into other economically profitable land uses.

Note: The problem of forest encroachment is not of current origin. Its roots lie in the first Forest Act, which was passed by the British Government in 1865. According to which the possession was taken over by the state, neglecting the rights of the indigenous local communities that lived in the forest and depended on it for their basic requirements of life.