A small band of villagers in the State lead by example to preserve forests for the future from destruction by timber mafia

Biswanath Barad, a farmer from this non-descript village in Odisha’s Nayagarh district, launched his crusade using community power, much before one of India’s famous green laws, the Forest (Conservation) Act, was enacted in 1980.

The power of many has virtually ring-fenced the State’s forests such as Ghantulei hills, led by pioneers like Biswanath and 20 others who were teenagers when they saw the alarming decline in wood and forest produce that they could get in 1970.

A struggle for many

It has been a struggle for many, with attacks on community forest patrols by timber smugglers, and arrests by police for protesting.

The violence claimed the life of Chandramani Nayak, who was killed by timber smugglers at Machhipada while on a patrol on December 31, 2012. Yet, the communities continue unfazed, preserving the forest for future generations, the members say.

Soon after the villagers first launched their forest guard model, similar efforts began in most parts of Nayagarh and other districts having forest cover. Of 1,700 villages in the district, people in about 1,200 villages are now part of community initiatives. About 900 villages have joined the Nayagarh Forest Protection Federation covering seven out of eight Blocks.

Biswanath and his people have saved the forest atop Ghantulei and enabled the regeneration of forest over 1,000 acres, a carpet of sal trees surrounding the hill and meeting their daily needs.

The Prakruti Mitra (friend of forests) award of the Odisha government was bestowed on him.

Researchers from different parts of the country and abroad now visit Nayagarh to study a forest protection and conflict resolution model that is run by the community.

Ironically, the administration was itself the biggest hurdle when they got to work. The State government’s Soil Conservation Department came to fell the sal trees and plant casuarina seedlings in 1984. The resulting protest led to nine villagers being booked in a case.

They were finally discharged by the court, strengthening their resolve to conserve the forest that feeds them. With villagers asserting their rights, the authorities were left with no choice but to consult them before taking up development projects.

The communities have evolved a protection protocol for the job. Voluntary patrolling through Thenga Palli (stick rotation) is done throughout the year. One person each from two families set out on the patrol every morning wielding the wooden stick which had been placed at their door the previous evening. If an intruder is spotted, fellow villagers are alerted immediately for reinforcements. It is a passing-the-baton routine, as the sticks are given to immediate neighbours everyday.

Rules for protection

The village forest protection council has set rules that are obeyed by all families. It is obligatory for every household to participate in Thenga Palli. If a household cannot participate on a given day, it must engage a labourer or exchange duty with a fellow neighbour.

Living trees are sacred for the residents and no one is allowed to cut any. There is, however, no restriction on collection of dry twigs, fruits, seeds and flowers to meet family requirements.

Biswanath’s father encouraged him to launch the system and his elder son, along with other youth, is now part of the patrol, he says.

The elders of neighbouring Kantabania village, where the residents have protected the Matigadia hills from timber smugglers, have similar stories to tell.

Growing awareness

Sarat Nayak, president of NFPF, puts the successes down to growing awareness among the villagers across the district.

Forest conservation for the farmers, Dalits and tribal people of Nayagarh goes beyond saving trees. Village ponds, hills streams and agriculture are also in focus in the foothills.

The Nayagarh story is repeated in Boudh, Kandhamal, Koraput, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Balangir and Malkangiri. Odisha Jungle Manch, an umbrella organisation of the people’s movement is represented in 25 of the 30 districts of the State.