In Kerala forest fall in two biogeographic provinces of Western Ghats and the western coast, and are rich in biodiversity and vital for environmental protection and considered to be a repository of rare and endangered flora and fauna Area under forest cover : Forest cover, as defined by Forest Survey of India, include all areas, more than one hectare in extent, with tree canopy density of more than 10 per cent. Even though the land area of Kerala is only 1.2 per cent of India , the forest cover is 2.30 per cent of the national average. The National Forest Policy envisages achieving the goal of 33 per cent of the land under forest and tree cover in the country. The Remote Sensing Data showed major changes in the percentage of forest cover

Kerala during the last 10 years (Table 1.1). During 1993-1999, the area under forest cover in the State was around 26.59 per cent and the national average was around 19.4 per cent. This stable status of the ecosystem showed a sudden increase during 2001-03, reaching an average of 40 per cent for the State, whereas the national average showed a slight increase reaching 20.50 per cent. This shows that the drastic increase, as interpreted from remote sensing data, was not real and probably, other tree covered areas like rubber plantations, which is on the increase in the State during the period, might have contributed to the increased coverage. Moreover, the area recorded under forests during the period by the State Forest Department also supports this conclusion.

Table 1.1. Biennial changes in forest cover (%) in India and Kerala during 1993- 2003

Figure 1.1: Biennial change in the percentage of geographic area under forest cover
In India and Kerala during 1993-2003

The geographical area recorded as forests by the State Forest Department shows that during 1993-2001, there is not much of a change or reduction in the extent of forests. However, during 2003, there is a slight increase as shown in Table 1.2 which is a positive trend, i.e. an area of 47 km 2 were added during the year and the coverage has almost attained 29 per cent (Fig. 1.1). However, this also includes about 75,000 ha of plantations of different species, the dominant ones being teak and eucalypts, which impoverishes the biodiversity and reduces the quality of the ecosystem. The classification of forest area in Kerala in the context of land utilization (Fig.1. 2) shows that 64 per cent of the area is under dense forests and 19 percent of the area is under plantations, while 17 percent of the area is given to other agencies (KFD, 2004). The reports of the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department further shows that the actual forest area in the State during 2003-04 was 9,400 km 2 which forms 24.19 per cent of the total geographic area on the State. Still, with a population density of 819 persons per square kilometer (as per the State Census Report, 2001), the per capita availability of forest in Kerala is only 0.035 ha.

Table 1.2. Forest area (km 2 ) in Kerala during 1993 to 2003

Source: Soe 2007

Figure 1.2. Classification of forest area under land utilisation

In State of Forest Report (FSI, 2003), the forests of the State has been further classified as very dense (VDF) moderately dense (MDF) and open forests. In very dense forests (VDF), the crown density is more than 70 per cent, in moderately dense forest (MDF) it is between 40 and 70 per cent, and forests with crown density 10 to 40 per cent were categorized as open forests (OF). As per the assessment in 2003 (FSI, 2003), in Kerala, dense forests (VDF and MDF together) accounted for 9,628 km 2 and of 5949 km 2 , respectively. At the same time, during 2001, the dense forests was 11,772 km 2 and open forests 3788 km 2 . In other words, there was better representation of dense forests in 2001 as compared to 2003 with a difference of 2144 km 2 and a matching increase in area of open forests (OP) by 2161 km 2 (Fig. 3a,b). At the same time, this drastic degradation trend was not recorded during 1999 and 1997 and during those years the transformation was very minimum, i.e., almost 15 km 2 (Table 1.3).

Table 1.3. Forest cover ( km 2 ) by density classes in India and Kerala

Figure 1.3a. Forest cover (km 2 ) by density classes in India and Kerala- Open forests

Figure 1.3b. Forest cover (km 2 ) by density classes in India and Kerala - Dense forests

Table 1.4. Forest cover ( km 2 ) by density classes in India and Kerala

  Status of natural forests versus plantations

The oldest teak plantation of India was raised in Nilambur of Kerala State during 1840s. About 20,000 ha area was brought under teak till 1960. Although regular plantation activity started during the second five year plan, greater momentum was achieved after 1980s. During 1980 to 1985, a total of 1,17,630 ha of area was under plantations of different species and this was increased to 3,10,830 ha in 1985-1990. Later on, the trend reversed and there was decline in plantation area to 85,300 ha in 1990-95 and to 1,03,750 ha in 1995-2000 (Table 1.5). Presently only the existing areas under plantations are managed and no more natural forest area is converted into plantation. The trend in reduction in establishment of plantation and current strategy of non-conversion of natural forests into plantation is a positive indication towards sustaining the status of the natural ecosystem which in turn also improves the indigenous biodiversity of the State.

Table 1.5. Forest plantations raised by different agencies since 1951

Source: SoE 2007

Joint Forest Management (JFM)

The participation of village communities living close to natural forests for the protection and development of forests has been given emphasis in the National Forest Policy, 1988. Accordingly, at National level, during 2001-2003, a total of 173319.60 km 2 of forest area was brought under the scheme with the involvement 84,632 committees. Almost all the States in the country have implemented the programme. The notification to the State Governments to involve local communities in the management of forests was issued by the Government of India in June, 1990. It is envisaged that the communities, in lieu of their participation in protection and development of forest areas, will be entitled for sharing the usufructs in a manner specified by the concerned forest departments. This has led to the development of the Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme.

The notification for Participatory Forest Management (PFM) was issued by Kerala Government in January, 1998 [GO (MS) 8/98/F&WLD dated 16.1.1998] and guidelines for implementation of PFM was issued in July, 2006 [GO (MS) No. 26/06/F&WLD dated 20.07.2006). There has been a progressive growth in the number of committees and the area brought under the scheme since 1999. Presently, more than 173 km 2 of Kerala forests is covered under the scheme (Table 1.6) with the involvement of 598 committees from an area of 4 km 2 and 21 committees in 1999.

Table 1.6. Progress of Participatory Forest Management in Kerala

Source:Soe2007

Accordingly, a paradigm shift is happening in the field of forest and wildlife management and the new strategy tries to reconcile the multiple demands on forests and to conserve the biodiversity on one hand and to meet the demands of the society on the other. The idea of involving local communities in forest conservation emerged out of this. It is a realization of the fact that governments enjoy political, legislative, judicial and financial powers to exert their will, rural communities have numeric superiority, a strong vested dependency and a strategic geographic position in relation to the forest resources. As a participatory forest management strategy for Protected Areas, ecodevelopment aims at conserving the biodiversity by addressing both the impact of local people on the Protected Areas and the impact of the Protected Areas on local people. Cardamom for Rainforest Conservation (CRC) and Participatory Forest Management (PFM) are processes initiated by the Forests and Wildlife Department of the State to protect the Cardamom Hill Reserves with the participation of Cardamom growers, Forest Department and related scientific organizations. The micro level organization associated with this is called the Unit Level Organization (ULO). In response to the changed paradigm of partnership, Eco Development Committees (EDCs) were established around fourteen Protected Areas of Kerala through village level planning of reciprocal commitments. The reciprocity resides in the mutual quid pro quo of specific measurable actions by local people to improve conservation and project investments that foster alternative resource use and livelihood. The intervention of these social institutions formed along the fringe areas of the forests of Kerala indicates that the novel approach adopted for building bridges between people and the forest management are paying dividends with regard to the long term conservation of forested areas and in the overall social capital built up in the communities.

Formation of these institutions has resulted in reducing the depletion of natural resources, to improve the socio-economic conditions of the marginalized communities and the consolidation and creation of social capital within individuals and society. This is now used as a platform for grass root level planning, asset creation, conflict resolution, networking other agencies and the formation of sub and satellite institutions. Currently, there are 598 units in PFM, including 304 fringe VSSs ( Vana Samrakshana Samithis ), 68 tribal VSSs, 33 ULOs and 193 EDCs. The number of VSSs also recorded overall increase during 1999-2000 to 2004-2005 (Table 1.7) and then declined in the subsequent years (Figure 1.4). Forest Development Agency ( ULO/FDA) registered under Society Act has now become a division–level subsisiary of VSSs and EDCs, and funds to VSSs for developmental activities from various departments and the central government are chanelled through FDA. Now FDAs cover an area of 15,840 ha in Kerala.

Table 1.7 Year-wise constitution of VSSs by the WildlifeWing of Kerala Forest Department since 1999

* Till September 2006

Source : PFM Cell, Forests and Wildlife Department, Kerala State (KFD 2006)

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Figure 1 4. Year-wise constitution of VSSs by the Wildlife wing of
Kerala Forest Department since 1999

Compensatory Afforestation Programme

As per GO(MS) 11/94/F&WLD dated 17-03-1994, Compensatory Afforestation Programme was initiated at an estimated cost of Rs.113 crores, to be executed within a period of 10 years, starting from the financial year 1993-94. The target of the scheme was afforestation of 57,180 ha of forest land in lieu of 26,588 ha lost by way of encroachments prior to 01-01-1977 , which was a pre-condition for obtaining Government of India clearance for issuing Patta to the encroached land. Though the programme of compensatory afforestation was scheduled to commence from 1993-94, it could take off only from the financial year 1994-95. As per the approval of the project, treatment and afforestation of 57,180 ha of degraded forests had to be completed by 1998-99 and the areas maintained for another 5 years, i.e., till 2002-03. But the treatment and afforestation of the entire area could not be completed as expected by 1998-99 and even at the end of 2001-02, due to various administrative and technical constraints. The progress in both physical and financial components of the programme, achieved till 2001-02, is given in Table 1.8. Out of the total targeted area of 57,180 ha under the scheme aportioned year-wise to be accomplished, hardly 20 per cent could be achieved till 2002-03 at a cost of rupees 57.80 crores which is almost 53 per cent of the total allotment. Therefore, both the physical and financial targets envisaged under the scheme could not be achieved which indirectly indicates the ineffectiveness of the programme as far as the State of Kerala is concerned. Whether it is due to lack of availability of proper resources, constraints in identifying targeted area, problems in the field implementation of the programme or administrative constraints is not known. The ecological suitability of the species tried in the programme, the survival rate of planted propagules, etc. are also matters of concern. Therefore even though the programme is a positive step taken by the Government of India to improve the status of the forest ecosystem and also to enrich the biodiversity of degraded areas, the success of it is not satisfactory, till date.

The National Afforestation Programme is now being implemented through a two-tier mechanism of Forest Development Agencies (FDA) at Forest Division level and Joined Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level. Currently, Kerala has 23 FDA project proposals from April 2000 onwards with a total estimated cost of Rs.47.44 crores covering an area of 15,840 ha (MoEF, 2006).

  Table 1.8. Details of compensatory afforestation activity in Kerala during 1993-94 to 2002-2003

  Extent of Protected Areas (PAs)

Protected areas are established in the country for the in situ conservation of biodiversity at ecosystem level. The current number of protected areas in India includes 92 National Parks and about 500 Wildlife Sanctuaries. At present, there are 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries (including two Bird Sanctuaries) and five National Parks in Kerala (Table 1.10), covering a total area of 2,346.33 km 2 (KFD, 2004). Parts of two Biosphere Reserves, namely Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve with an extent of 1455.40 km 2 and the newly proposed Agasthiyavanam Biosphere Reserve with an area of 1701 km 2 in Kerala are also protected areas within the State to preserve the forests and biodiversity. The increase in the number and area of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in the State is given in Table 1.11. Including Biosphere Reserves, a total area of about 5,502.78 km 2 is under the protected area network, which comes to about 14 per cent of the geographic area of Kerala. From Table 1.10, it is clear that there are only 21.638 km 2 of National Park area and 32 km 2 of Wildlife Sanctuary area were added to the protected area network of the State since 1985, and that too only during 2006.

Project Tiger programme was launched during 1973 to conserve the wild populations of the species in the country. The programme is spread over different States of which 777 km 2 is in Kerala. It was launched in the State in Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary during 1978 to preserve Tiger and its prey base and the habitat. The programme is successful and recent wildlife census shows that the number of tigers in the State has increased substantially. A similar project on elephant called Project Elephant was launched in 1991 aimed at conservation of elephant through protection and management of their habitat range. The elephant reserves identified in Kerala include Wayanad, Nilambur, Animudi and Periyar.

    Table 1.10: Details of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala as on 31. 03. 2004

  Source: Forest Statistics, Forests and Wildlife Department, Kerala (KFD, 2004)

    Table 1.11. Increase in the area of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala during 1985-2006

Timber and Non-Timber forest products of Kerala

Forest Products collection is one of the major livelihoods of the local people. It consist of a variety of products, which are sources of food, fibre, manure, construction materials, cosmetics and cultural products. The users of NTFP range from local individuals to multinational companies. With the development of modern techniques, the number of products and uses based on NTFP has increased by many folds. Studies indicate NTFP collectors are amongst the lowest-income groups in India, often receiving a mere 5-20% of the value for their products (SPWD,1993). About 69% of the forest based employment is related to NTFP. The forests of Kerala are very rich in NTFP including edible products, medicinal plants, toiletries, tans, dyes, gums, resins, rattan, bamboo, grasses and animal products. Although 500 species of NTFP are available in the forests of Kerala, about 120 items are listed as commercially important by the Kerala Forest Department. But as per record more than 200 species are being collected.

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