Amarpali: Local forests under constant threat of encroachments and urbanisation, locals of Hatilimunda village under Birmaharajpur block in Subarnapur district have dedicated 15 years of their life to protecting a forest near the village.
The villagers are a leading example of community-based forest conservation in the district. Their efforts prove that indigenous people can effectively manage their own natural resources without assistance from the government or foreign intervention.
The state and central governments have launched several schemes and spend lakhs of rupees to protect forest and preserve forest products and wild animals. However, such schemes fail to make a difference in rural and interior villages of the district.
Forest products are routinely looted and sold at a premium in neighbouring states by wood and timber mafia. Even forest officials have fallen prey to wood mafia who bribe them and loot natural resources that directly affects the environment.
At a time when the government failed to protect forest, the efforts of locals are praiseworthy, green enthusiasts said.
“We started protecting the forest because we did not want our natural resources- our land, water and forests-to be lost or destroyed by outside forces,” the locals said. “It is the only source of food and income for us and our children,” the local added.
According to sources, Hatilimunda is a small village that comprises 35-40 families. The families mostly belong to tribal groups and live on forest products. Most of the forest products have been their only source of food.
However, illegal activities of wood mafia claimed threat to their living. That’s when they decided to form a forest protection committee in the village. They divided themselves into several groups and stand guard to the forest covering 100 hectare around the village. The forest is surrounded by several types of valuable trees including sal, teek, mahua, bamboo and mahogany trees. The forest is also home to many wild animals like elephants, boars, deer, blackbucks and bears.
A group stands guard in the morning while another group stands guard at night. The trend continues the next day. The locals have been doing this for years and have been awarded twice for their noble deed.
However, they expressed discontentment over lack of government support. They carry out afforestation every year and plant new trees. Keeping in mind the need for more trees, they demanded that the government supply more saplings to be planted in the forest. They also demanded construction of a watch tower in the forest that would be useful in guarding the forest at nights. PNN