GENERAL

FORESTS

The district has an area of 619.04 square miles under forests of which 470.97 square miles are in charge of the Forest Department and the remaining 148.07 square miles are in charge of the Revenue Department. The forest area makes 16.41 per cent of the total geographical area as against the average of 17.56 per cent for the State of Maharashtra.

Forests of this circle are divided into two categories viz., reserved and protected forests according to Indian Forest Act (XVI of 1927). Before forests are classified they have to be subjected to regular settlement by a Forest Settlement Officer, who enquires into the existence of all public and private rights. The details of the reserved forests and protected forests are as follows:—

The forests are mainly situated on the Balaghat plateau of the Ajanta hills and in the Purna Valley. The forests belong to the 'Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous' type. The varieties of the forests found in the district are.—(1) Superior teak forests, (2) Inferior teak forests, (3) Anjan forests, (4) Babul forests, (5) Mixed forests. (6) Salai forests and (7) Grass land and brushwood areas.

Teak is the main species found all over. Anjan is found in pure patches and Babul is confined mainly to the river banks along the black cotton soil. The forest produce is exploited through the agencies to whom contract is given and also through the forest labourers co-operative societies.

The type of vegetation is mainly governed by soil formation, configuration of the ground, drainage and the influence of man. The type of the forest that is met with, belongs to the southern tropical dry deciduous and can be further classified as follows:—

Superior Teak Forests.—This type of forests is mainly confined to the Ambabarwa block and Mangeri. The stretch of forest is, however, narrow. The quality is M. P. III (40' to 60'). The principal associates are ain (Terminalia tomentosa), karam (Stephogyne pervifolia korth), bel (Aegle marmelos corn), tiwas (Eugenia dalbergioesid), lendia (lagerstroemia parviflora). dhawada (Anogeissus catifolia), tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) and semal (Salmelia malabarica) (D. G.).

Inferior Teak Forests.—(a) General Type:—This type occurs over a large area the average quality being IV b and IV a (25' to 40') high. Teak has a tendency to form almost a pure crop, the percentage however, invariably found being 50. Interspersed better quality patches of teak III (45' to 60') high, as in Pachdeola and Girda Reserve of Ghatbori and Buldhana Ranges, respectively, are met with where the soil deposits are fairly deep. The density is invariably 7 to 8.

(b) Poor and openly stocked teak type.—The type is more or less similar to superior teak forests described above, the difference being in the condition and the composition of the crop. The crop is of poor quality due to its occurrence on shallow soil and the variations caused by frequent severe fires. The crop is generally M. P. IV b (25' to 40') high. Teak occurs almost pure with a heavy growth.

Mixed Forests.— This type of forests occurs in all blocks in the Buldhana Division. The soil is derived from shales, sand and stones of the Raipur series. The quality is poor IV b and consists of ain, lendia, dhaora, tendu, anjan, char, bija (Pterocarpus marsu-pium) beheda, (Terminalia beleriac) and karam. Bharati (Gymnosporia montana), chilati (Mimosa rubicaulis), khair, bor and Anjan are found in the understory.

Understocked and blank areas.— Such areas are common and comprise about 50 per cent of the forest areas and lie interspersed all over. This occurrence is particularly due to the shallow soil with the outcrop of the rocks at the surface.

Bamboo Forests.— This does not belong to a separate type but occurs along the nala valleys and the easy slopes of the hills. The area under bamboos is, however, sparse and occurs in some of the block of Ambabarwa, Wasali, Saikheda and Chunkhedi in Jalgaon Range of Buldhana division. Bamboos due to great value and demand from the cultivators have been planted successfully in the Ambabarwa Reserved Forests of the Buldhana division.

Forest products.— Forest products of this division are divided in two main classes, i.e., major and minor. The chief major forest products are timber and firewood. Almost all good quality timber is consumed by the timber markets at Aurangabad and Bombay. The firewood is consumed locally at Buldhana and places around. Due to inadequate means of communications, however, complete exploitation of all forest produce is rendered impossible.

There are no forest based industries in this division. The present logging method is also very wasteful. Due to non-availability of adequate labour mechanical devices would have to be used for working these forests intensively. Timber and firewood are derived out of the coupes due for working. These coupes are advertised for sale and are sold by public auction. The coupes are also marked through the forest labourers co-operative societies on the formula basis.

The minor forest products are mainly temburni leaves, rosa oil and gum which are sold by public auctions. Some minor products like grass are sold on rated passes.

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