![Description:
Silent Valley is located at Mukkali, Mannarkkad, Padavayal in Kerala,
at the core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve [1].
In 1976, Kerala State Electricity Board planned a construction of a
240 MW hydroelectric project, the Silent Valley Hydro-Electric Project
(SVHEP), over the Kunthipuzha River flowing through the Palakkad
and Mallapuram districts, intended to submerge 8.3 sq km of forest
land [3]. The plan for construction of the dam, announced already in
1973, attracted attention of environmentalists not only in Kerala state
but also all over the globe. Romulus Whitaker, founder of the Madras
Snake Park and the Madras Crocodile Bank, was probably the first
person to draw public attention to the small and remote area. Also
the poet activist Sugathakumari played an important role in the Silent
Valley protest and her poem "Marathinu Stuthi" ("Ode to a Tree")
became a symbol for the protest from the intellectual community and
was the opening song/prayer of most of the "save the Silent Valley"
campaign meetings.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/forestresources-200611050730/85/Forest-resources-14-320.jpg)
Forest resources
- 2. • FOREST RESOURCES • DEFORESTATION • EFFECTS OF MINING AND DAMS • CASE STUDY-1 • CASE STUDY-2 • CONSERVATION OF FORESTS TOPICS
- 3. Forest Resources Forest is important renewable resources. Forest vary in composition and diversity and can contribute substantially to the economic development of any country .Plants along with trees cover large areas, produce variety of products and provide food for living organisms, and also important to save the environment. It is estimated that about 30% of world area is covered by forest whereas 26% by pastures. Among all continents, Africa has largest forested area (33%) followed by Latin America (25%), whereas in North America forest cover is only 11%. Asia and former USSR has 14% area under forest. European countries have only 3% area under forest cover. India’s Forest Cover accounts for 20.6% of the total geographical area of the country as of 2005.
- 5. Significance of forests: Forest can provide prosperity of human being and to the nations. Important uses of forest can be classified as under- • Commercial values • Ecological significance • Aesthetic values • Life and economy of tribal
- 6. Over exploitation of forests- Forests contribute substantially to the national economy. With increasing population increased demand of fuel wood, expansion of area under urban development and industries has lead to over exploitation of forest .At present international level we are losing forest at the rate of 1.7 crore hectares annually. Overexploitation also occurs due to overgrazing and conversion of forest to pastures for domestic use.
- 7. • Forest are burned or cut for clearing of land for agriculture ,harvesting for wood and timber , development and expansion of cities .These economic gains are short term where as long term effects of deforestation are irreversible • Deforestation rate is relatively low in temperate countries than in tropics If present rate of deforestation continues we may losses 90% tropical forest in coming six decades • For ecological balance 33% area should be under forest cover but our nation has only 20.6% forest cover. Deforestation-
- 8. Causes of deforestation Forest area in some developed area has expanded. However in developing countries area under forest is showing declining trend particularly in tropical region. Main causes of deforestation are - a) Shifting cultivation or jhum cultivation b) Commercial logging c) Need for fuel wood d) Expansion for agribusiness e) Development projects and growing need for food f) Raw materials for industrial use
- 9. Major effects of deforestation- Deforestation adversely and directly affects and damages the environment and living beings .Major causes of deforestation are - • Soil erosion and loss of soil fertility • Decrease of rain fall due to affect of hydrological cycle • Expansion of deserts • Climate change and depletion of water table • Loss of biodiversity ,flora and fauna • Environmental changes and disturbance in forest ecosystems
- 10. • Vast areas of forests are directly cleared to accommodate mining sites, construction of roads, processing units and townships for workers. Destruction is vast in case of open cast mines. • Forest land is also used to store the waste materials that remain after the extraction of usable ores. • Mining also facilitates soil erosion, there by decreasing the fertility of land leading to land degradation. • Pollution of both air and water is common affect of mines. Mining and its effect on forests-
- 11. DAMS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON FORESTAND TRIBAL PEOPLE- • When a dam is constructed across any river a huge artificial lake is developed in the catchment area of that dam. It is also known as back waters. The backwaters covering a large surface area. Create a lot of ill-effects on the living environment. They are as follows: • It creates the loss of forest which are submerged under the back waters of the dam. • It creates danger to the habitat of the wild life. The wild life are forced to migrate. It also affects the land under cultivation, in the catchment area as the crops get submerged under water. • The roads, already in existence are put under water after the construction of dam. So the road network is damaged.
- 12. • The creation of reservoirs in more than 1500 major river valley projects has flooded 5000 sq. km of forest land and resulted in their disappearances. • Water logging and Stalinization affects perhaps half the canal irrigated land in the country, with varying degrees of severity • Several species of wild animal and plants such as river dolphin ,Platanista , gangetica and Hilsa ilisha have been pushed to threatened status by dams and associated impacts.
- 13. CASE STUDY -1 SILENT VALLEY HYDRO ELECTRIC PROJECT
- 14. Description: Silent Valley is located at Mukkali, Mannarkkad, Padavayal in Kerala, at the core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve [1]. In 1976, Kerala State Electricity Board planned a construction of a 240 MW hydroelectric project, the Silent Valley Hydro-Electric Project (SVHEP), over the Kunthipuzha River flowing through the Palakkad and Mallapuram districts, intended to submerge 8.3 sq km of forest land [3]. The plan for construction of the dam, announced already in 1973, attracted attention of environmentalists not only in Kerala state but also all over the globe. Romulus Whitaker, founder of the Madras Snake Park and the Madras Crocodile Bank, was probably the first person to draw public attention to the small and remote area. Also the poet activist Sugathakumari played an important role in the Silent Valley protest and her poem "Marathinu Stuthi" ("Ode to a Tree") became a symbol for the protest from the intellectual community and was the opening song/prayer of most of the "save the Silent Valley" campaign meetings.
- 15. People were concerned about the fact that the construction of the dam will submerge vast amount of land and will severely destroy the rich ecological flora and fauna of that region. People expressed their concern and it triggered a wave of protests through the different mode of protest all across the state. May environmentalists, scientists, concerned people and common people also joined the demonstration. The protest from the Kerala state was further intensified when people from all over the country joined the protest. Soon it became India's major and perhaps the first environmental movement with a far reaching consequence. The 'Save Silent Valley' movement was a grand success for all time environmental movement in India. Beside this, it is a source of inspiration for similar agitations. The ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam’ protests are highly motivated by that campaign
- 16. Basic Data Name of conflict: Silent Valley Hydro-Electric Project, Kerala, India Country: India State or province: Kerala Location of conflict: Padavayal Accuracy of location: HIGH (Local level) Source of Conflict Type of conflict. 1st level: Biodiversity conservation conflicts Type of conflict. 2nd level: Deforestation Establishment of reserves/national parks Dams and water distribution conflicts Specific commodities: Electricity Water
- 17. Project details- Silent Valley Reserve Forest can be classified under four forest types. The types are West-coast tropical evergreen forest (600 to 1100 m), Southern subtropical broad leaved hill forest (1300 to 1800 m), Southern montane wet temperate forest (above 1900 m) and Grassland. According to the Kerala Forest and Wild Life Department, the rich flora of the valley include about a 1000 species of flowering plants, 107 species of orchids, 100 ferns and fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens and about 200 algae. Beside this it also have about 34 species of mammals, 292 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians, 13 species of fishes, 500 species of butterflies and moths, besides a multitude of lower forms of animal. The Valley has a natural boundary from all sides with high and continuous mountains.
- 18. So the area is closed and shielded from the extremes of climate as well as anthropogenic interventions. Hence it remains an ecological island with a special micro climate. According to the Kerala Forest and Wild Life Department ‘the Silent Valley National Park is probably one of the most magnificent gifts of nature to mankind, a unique preserve of tropical rain forests in all its pristine glory with an almost unbroken ecological history’. A river named ‘Kunthi’ descends from the Nilgiri Hills above an altitude of 2000 m and flows throughout the valley and finally rushing down to the plains through a deep gorge . The Kerala Minister for Electricity called The Pathrakkadavu dam (PHEP) an "eco-friendly alternative" to the old Silent Valley project. The PHEP was designed as a run-off-the-river project with an installed capacity of 70 MW in the first phase (105 MW eventually) and an energy generation of 214 million units (Mu) with a minimal gross storage of 0.872 million cubic metres. The claim was that the submergence area of the PHEP would be a negligible .041 km2 compared to 8.30 km2 submergence of the 1970s (SVHEP).
- 19. Project area: 8950 Level of Investment: 4,167,379 (25 Crores in 1973) Type of population Rural Affected Population: Many biological Species Start of the conflict: 01/01/1970 End of the conflict: 01/01/1985 Relevant government actors: Government of Kerala Government of India Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: Silent Valley Samrakshana Samiti Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad Kerala Nature History Society Citizens, Environmentalists, Scholars Silent Valley is home to the largest population of lion- tailed macaque. They are among the world's rarest and most threatened primates
- 20. Impacts- Environmental Impacts: Visible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems Potential: Food insecurity (crop damage), Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity, Other Environmental impacts Socio-economical Impacts: Visible: Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Displacement, Loss of livelihood, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession Outcome- Project Status: Stopped Conflict outcome / response: Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Land demarcation Project cancelled
- 21. As the Silent Valley is rich in natural habitat, people from different corner of the society put immense pressure to the concerned official to stop the project. Although the campaign did not have any centralized planning, but the way the protest was organized can be considered as ‘an ecological Marxists resort to Gandhian techniques to fight against environmental injustice’. This way of protest was highly effective and due to the sustained pressure exerted on the government by citizens. People used every possible way of protest available at that time. It was letters to the editors of newspapers, seminars, widespread awareness programmes, and the petitions and appeals in court and other high offices. Using all these means the people were able to put pressure on the government and it proved ultimately successful. In 1986 Silent Valley was declared a National Park. The lessons from this inspiring and hard-fought campaign are still relevant today. Development of alternatives:
- 22. Looking at the public demand, in January 1981the then prime minister of India Indira Gandhi declared that that Silent Valley will be protected. In November 1983, the hydroelectric project was stopped. In 1985, the then prime minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Silent Valley National Park. The area is now considered as 'hot spot' . The 'Save Silent Valley' movement was a grand success for all time environmental movement in India. Beside this, it is a source of inspiration for similar agitations. The ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam’ protests are highly motivated by that campaign Conclusion-
- 23. CASE STUDY-2 uranium Mining in Nallamala Forest
- 24. LOCATION: Nallamala Forest Reserve Nallamala Forest Reserve is located in Nallamala Ranges of the Eastern Ghats. A part of the forest reserve belongs to the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve which is the largest Tiger Reserve in India. Amrabad Tiger Reserve also lies in the Nallamala hills.
- 25. DISCRIPTION: Recently Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted in-principle approval to the Department of Atomic Energy to survey and explore for uranium in 83 sq km of the Nallamala Forest Reserve. The Telangana State Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Central government not to permit uranium mining operations in Amrabad Tiger Reserve part of Nallamala forests and other areas of Telangana.
- 26. Background: About 63 organizations, including political parties, several environment activists have come together to form the ‘Struggle Committee against Uranium Mining’ This committee aims to strengthen and take forward the campaign ‘Save Nallamalla Forest’ to stop mining in the tiger reserve. Uranium Mining in these areas also threatens the survival and livelihoods of Chenchu tribals, who live in the Amrabad forests.
- 27. Legal Framework For Uranium Mining: In pursuance to entry at serial No. 54 of List I, the Parliament has passed ‘The Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957’. However, with respect to minor minerals, the rulemaking powers have been delegated to the States through this act. Since Uranium is a major mineral, it is managed by the Union Government under provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
- 28. The policy and legislation relating to Major minerals are managed by the Ministry of Mines But Uranium being an atomic mineral is managed by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Many of these mineral deposits are found in rich forest reserves and thus approval of Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change becomes necessary.
- 29. Uranium Mining In India: In India, Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. It occurs along the Singbhum Copper belt (Jharkhand); Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
- 30. Significant quantity of reserves were recently discovered in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between Seshachalam forest and Sresailam (Southern edge of Andhra to Southern edge of Telangana). Uranium is used as a fuel for nuclear power reactors for electricity generation, in the manufacture of radioisotopes for medical applications and in nuclear science research.
- 31. Impacts of Uranium Mining: Drilling of 4,000 deep holes will end up destroying the Amrabad Tiger Reserve which is home to a vast variety of wildlife. The exploration will expose and pollute surface water, groundwater and leech minerals, and dangerous chemicals into the Nagarjuna sagar Dam. Construction of roads will fragment and degrade the dry forests, which may never recover after such a massive exercise.
- 32. Rare, endangered and unique species of flora and fauna and overall biodiversity will be destroyed. Radiations from these mines will cause harm to the lives of people who live around them, which has been observed in Jharkhand’s Jaduguda.
- 33. Chenchu Tribe: The Chenchus are Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha. But many Chenchus live in the dense Nallamala forest of Andhra Pradesh. They are an aboriginal tribe whose traditional way of life has been based on hunting and gathering. The Chenchus speak the Chenchu language, a member of the Dravidian language family. Chenchu's relationship with non-tribal people has been largely symbiotic.
- 34. Forest conservation and management- Forest is one of the most valuable resources and thus needs to be conserved. To conserve forest, following steps should be taken. • Conservation of forest is a national problem, thus it should be tackled with perfect coordination between concerned government departments. • People should be made aware of importance of forest and involved in forest conservation activities. • The cutting of trees in the forests for timber should be stopped. • A forestation programmes should be launched • Grasslands should be regenerated. • Forest conservation Act should be strictly implemented to check deforestation. • Awards should be instituted for the deserving.
- 35. ‘Don’t make trees rare, keep them with care’ Thank you