The Gazetteers Department

" The Government forests are almost entirely situated on the hills of Arvi Tahsil, while a small block of no importance exists near Girar in the south-east of Hinganghat. The Wardha tahsil contains only 4 square miles belonging to the Arvi range. The Arvi forests adjoin those of the Katol tahsil in Nagpur. The total area of the forests is 200 square miles or 8 per cent of that of the District, and it was all notified as reserved forest in 1879. The area covered by the forests is generally hilly, and along the crests of the hills the soil is very shallow and sterile, but in the intervening valleys and gorges rich land is found which will produce a valuable crop. The hillsides are clothed with a growth of low scrub and few forest trees of any value either for fruit or timber are to be met with. On the other hand large supplies of fuel may be drawn from this area while grass is plentiful and affords a welcome provision for the village cattle and for the professional graziers who make a livelihood by cattle-breeding and the trade in milk and ghi. The distribution of the forests is scattered and straggling, the outlines of the boundaries of many of them are irregular and they include some small isolated blocks. The principal timber tree is teak, which occurs commonly as coppice of small size and inferior growth, not usually exceeding 30 feet; it is occasionally nearly pure, but is generally mixed with other species of its own age and height. Large trees with good stems of this or of any of the important species are exceedingly few. The tree next in value which is widely distributed is saj or yen (Terminalia tomentosa); this commonly occurs mixed with inferior species and its growth is not good, the few large trees having crooked stems. Tendu (Diospyros tomentosa), dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), lendia (Lagerstroemia parviflora) and tinsa (Ougeina dalbergioides) of the better species and of the others moyen (Odina Wodier), mokha (Schrebera Swieteniodes), and saleh (Boswellia thurifera) are met with all over the Arvi range. The former kinds are mainly found as coppice and of poor inferior growth, the result of former reckless fellings. Bamboos are found only in a few localities and in very small quantities. About 20 square miles consist of open-grass-land either on steep slopes or in detached areas. The small block in the south-east of Hinganghat tahsil contains very thin jungle and the only important product yielded by it is grass, from which an estimated annual income of Rs. 500 is obtained. It is included for management in one of the Nagpur ranges.

The forests form part of the Nagpur-Wardha Division, the headquarters of the Divisional Forest Officer being at Nagpur. The local staff for the Arvi range comprises a ranger, three foresters and 47 forest guards. Systematic fire-protection has been attempted only over an area of less than 30 square miles in the last two years. According to the sanc tioned working plan the range has been divided into seven circles, of which six varying in extent from 7,000 to 9,000 acres, each are worked, while the seventh of nearly 70,000 acres, or more than half of the total area, forms a grazing block to supplement the area annually opened to grazing in the working circles. Each circle is divided into 30 compartments, one of which is worked annually so as to produce a rotation of 30 years. As a rule, each compartment is closed to grazing for ten years after it is worked. Some modifications have been made in the plan however in order to provide a larger area for grazing and this now extends to 90,000 acres. The area cut over each year in the six working circles averages 1600 acres, and at the time the working-plan was drawn up (1896) was more than sufficient to supply the local demand for timber and fuel.

Private forests.

Besides the Government forests, 148 square miles of malguzari forest were included in the occupied area in 1904-05. Of this only 34 square miles were tree forest and the remaining 114 scrub jungle and grass. The combined area has decreased from 184 square miles since 1898-99 or by 36 square miles in seven years. The bulk of the malguzari forest is situated in the Arvi tahsil in the Kharangha, Kachur and Dhamkund groups and there is also a small quantity in the Keljhar group of Wardha and the Girar group of Hinganghat. Most of the forests adjoin the Government reserves. Those in Wardha and Hinganghat contain little valuable timber. In the forests of the Arvi tahsil teak, mahua and other timber trees are found, from which the village proprietors derive a considerable revenue. The numerous date-palm trees growing in the open country are also a valuable asset to the proprietors. The forests of eight villages are notified under section 124 A of the Land Revenue Act."

Organisation.

The Chief Conservator of Forests with headquarters at Pune is the head of the Forest department in the State. For administrative purposes, the whole State is divided into seven circles with headquarters at Nasik, Poona, Nagpur, Amravati, Chandrapur, Thana and Aurangabad. The Conservator of Forests stationed at the headquarters is in-charge of a circle.

The Conservators have under them the Divisional Forest Officers and Sub-Divisional Forest Officers, to look after the administration of the divisions and independent sub-divisions, respectively. The Divisional Forest Officers belong to Senior Indian Forest Service or Maharashtra Forest Service, Class I and the Sub-Divisional Forest Officers to Junior Indian Forest Service or Maharashtra Forest Service, Class II. The divisions in some cases are divided into sub-divisions which are in charge of Sub-Divisional Forest Officers. The divisions or sub-divisions as the case may be are divided into ranges. Each range is managed by a Range Forest Officer under the control of the Divisional Forest Officer or the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer as the case may be. The Range Forest Officer is a non-gazetted subordinate officer (Class III) who is usually trained at one of the Forest Colleges of India, either at Dehradun or Coimbatore. Each range is sub-divided into round of which is managed by a Round Officer or a Forester who is usually trained at one of the forest schools in the State. Finally each round is sub-divided into beats each in charge of a Beat Guard.

The Wardha forest division covers Wardha district only. Falling under the Nagpur Circle it is in charge of the Divisional Forest Officer, Wardha. Under him there are three Range Forest Officers, nine Round Officers and seventy four Beat Guards. The forest ranges in the division have their headquarters at Arvi, Hingni and Karanja. As per 1961 Census the forest area of the district is 342.92 square miles. Most of the forests in the district lie in the northern half of the district in a more or less compact block, in the Arvi and Wardha tahsils, while only 22.89 square miles (59.28 sq. kms.) of forest is in Hinganghat tahsil.

As far as Wardha district is concerned there is not much variation in the rainfall. The average annual rainfall for Wardha district is 1011.25 mm (40.45 inches).

Classification.

The forests met with in the tract are of one main type, namely, the southern tropical dry deciduous forests of the Champion's classification of forest types of India. Within this main type considerable local variation occurs depending mainly on rock and soil, topography and past treatment. In Wardha Division the forests are mainly borne by the trap zone (so called as the rock is mainly Deccan trap basalt). The following types are recognised.

(a) Good quality teak forests.—These are found in parts of Arvi and Hingni Ranges. The percentage of teak in the over wood varies from 40 to 80. At places teak occurs almost pure. The associates of teak in these areas are Dhaora (Anogeissus latifolia), Salai (Boswellia Serrata), Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) and Ain (Terminalia Tomentosa). The average quality of crop is IVa/IVb. The top height usually varies from 35' to 45'. The average density of crop is about 0.7. These forests are capable of producing sound teak trees of about 3' in girth at breast height. Bamboos are practically absent. The underwood and undergrowth is sparse. Khair (Acacia Catechu), Bor (Zizyphus jujuba), Palas (Butea Monosperma), Jilbili (Woodfordia Fruticosa) are the main species occurring as under-wood and under-growth. Tarota (Cassia tora), Ban Tulsi (Eranthemum pulchellum) and Diwali (Petalidium barlerioides) are the main woods.

(b) Poor quality Teak forests.—These occur on the major part of the trap zone in Arvi, Karanja and Hingani ranges. In general the forests are of IVth quality, the average top height being 35'. These are capable of producing sound teak trees of 2' girth at breast height. Teak occurs in high percentage over most of the areas and at places it forms pure. The common associates are Dhaora, Lendia (Lagers-troemia parviflora) Salai, Mawai (Lannea grandis) Ain, etc. The average density of crop is 0.7. Underwood and undergrowth generally consists of Ghot (Zizy phus Xylophyra), Bor, Palas, Medsingh (Dolichandrone falcata), Khair, Dudhi (Wrightia tinctoria), Indrajao (Holarrhena antidysenterica), Lokhandi (Ixora parviflora), Bharati (Gymnosporia montana) etc. In this type of forest there are many understocked areas in which either grass or bantulsi is growing quite thick.

(c) Mixed forests.—This type is confined only to small areas with poorly drained clayey soils. The over wood consists of Ain, Bel (Aegle marmelos), Karam (Mitragyna parvifolia), Palas, Mohwa (Madhuca latifolia), Behera (Terminalia belerica), etc.

Working plans for the management and development of forests are prepared solely by the Forest department. But in so far as the prescriptions of the working plan affect local supply and the right and privileges of inhabitants of the district, the approval of the Collector concerned has to be obtained before it is submitted to the Government, by the Chief Conservator of Forests, for sanction.

Duties of Officers.

Divisional Forest Officer

The Divisional Forest Officer is directly responsible for the exploitation and regeneration of forests according to the sanctioned working plans and other orders. He conducts sales, enters into contracts, supplies material to department and the public, realises revenue and controls expenditure under instructions from the Conservator of Forests. He deals finally with forest offence cases, having power to compound them. Rewards are also paid by him in the detection of the forest offences. In short, he is responsible for forest administration and management in all matters relating to forest operations of a technical nature.

Sub-Divisional Forest Officer.

The duties of the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer in charge of the independent sub-division are exactly the same as those of a Divisional Forest Officer, while the Assistant Conservator or Sub-Divisional Forest Officer attached to a Division assists the Divisional Forest Officer in the implementation of the prescription of the working plans and other conservancy works. He also helps in the work of inspection and supervision of various kinds of silvicultural works requiring technical knowledge, besides attending to other duties entrusted to him by the Divisional Forest Officer. At present, there is one Sub-Divisional Forest Officer working under the Divisional Forest Officer, Wardha.

Range Forest Officer.

The Range Forest Officer is in executive charge of the Range. He is responsible for carrying out orders of the Divisional Forest Officer, Assistant Conservator of Forests or the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, with the help of the Round Officers and the Forest Guards. He is responsible also for all works in his charge pertaining to marking, reservation, girdling and felling of trees, the transport of timber, fuel, etc., to the sale depots, sowing, planting, tending and other silvicultural operations, construction of roads, buildings and wells according to the sanctioned plans and estimates, protection of forests and investigation of forest offences, supervision on removal of forest produce by purchasers and by holders of rights and privileges and issue of forest transit passes and permits.

Forester.

The duties of the Forester are to protect the forests, to execute other works, to detect and investigate the forest offences, to issue permits and passes and to collect revenues from the permit holders and compensation in case of forest offences. He is also responsible for the preservation of standards (i. e., the number and kind of trees prescribed for preservation and the manner of cutting, etc.) in coupes given out to contractors for cutting, inspection and protection of forests, and guidance and supervision of forest guards.

Forest Guard.

The functions of the forest guard are to patrol and protect all forests in his beat, repair and maintain forest boundary marks, execute silvicultural works viz., sowing, planting and creeper-cutting and detect forest offences.

Reserved and Protected Forests.

Under the Indian Forest Act (XVI of 1927) forests are divided into two categories, viz., reserved and protected forests. 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. In case of reserved forests, the existing rights are either settled, transferred or commuted. In case of protected forests, the rights are clearly recorded and regulated. The reserved forests of Wardha district coming under the Wardha Forest Division admeasure 521.62 sq. km. (201.40 sq. miles) whereas protected forests in the district under the forest department admeasure 345.45 sq. km. (133.38 sq. miles).

Working Plans.

A working plan is a document which lays down the details of scientific management of a forest for a prescribed number of years. Before the working plan is drawn up a survey is made of the growing stock, at times by actual enumerations and an analysis is made of the stems of standing trees to determine the rate of growth of principal species with special reference to the soil and the climatic conditions of each locality. On the basis of data thus collected, plans are drawn up for felling, regeneration, silvicultural treatment and protection of forests with provision for due exercise of the rights and privileges of the people including grazing of cattle. The preparation of the working plans for this division is done by the Divisional Forest Officer, Working Plans, Nagpur and Amravati Circles, Nagpur who is under the Conservator of Forests, Working Plan Circle, Pune.

Functions of the Department.

The main functions of the Forest Department are exploitation, regeneation and protection of forests according to sanctioned working plans and other orders and conduct of sales, entering into contracts and supply of material to Government departments and the public. In addition a number of schemes under the Fourth Five Year Plan are executed by this department in this Division. The salient aspects of the functions are described below.

Regeneration and maintenance.

As the area is cut and tree growth removed it is regenerated with new crop. Great care and precaution are taken to prevent damages by man, animals, insects and other pests and against adverse climatic influences, and other animate agencies. Damage by man is caused by (1) lighting of fires, (2) encroachments, (3) faulty exploitation methods including illicit cuttings, and (4) misuse of forest rights and privileges. Though occasionally forest fires may originate from natural causes, in the vast majority of the cases they are due to human action either within or outside the forests. To prevent damage by fire, the whole hearted support and co-operation is secured through the authority and influence of the village headman. Precautionary measures like fire-tracing and early burning are also taken by the department in good time. Clearing of shrubby growth along roads and paths is also done to avert any fire spreading in the forest. Rigid patrolling and vigilant watch against unauthorised felling and removal of forest produce by the villagers is resorted to. Offenders in respect of unauthorised grazing and other damage from cattle are dealt with under the Forest Act and other laws.

System of Management.

The forests are being worked under the prescription of working plans. The system depends on the condition of the crop and the object of management. The area under the management of the department in the district is worked under various silvicultural systems prescribed in the current working plan. Regeneration work is carried out in two ways, viz., (1) by natural means (coppice) and (2) by artificial means. Under the former system, trees are allowed to be cut at ground level or near it and regeneration takes place naturally by shoots from the stump whereas under artificial system, when trees are felled, regeneration is effected by artificial methods, such as sowing, transplanting of root and shoot cutting called stump in regularly spaced lines. Cleaning, thinning and other cultural operations are also undertaken by the department in the coupes.

Exploitation.

The Forest produce is divided into two main classes i. e., major and minor. The chief major forest produce is timber and firewood, whereas fuel, bamboo, rusa, grass, leaves, minerals, etc., are classed as minor forest produce. The chief minor forest produce of Wardha are Tendu leaves and grass.

The major forest produce is derived out of the coupes due for working. These are given to the forest labourers'co-operative societies for working and remaining are sold by public auction.

The minor forest produce is sold by auction. It is also sold on permits.

In 1964-65 the total annual income of the Forest Division accruing from all sources was Rs. 11.18 lakhs, whereas the total expenditure came to Rs. 5.62 lakhs.

Forest Roads.

The total length of forest roads in this Division is 672 km. (420 miles).

Public Relations.

The recognised forest rights, privileges and concessions given to the people in Wardha district are embodied in the working plan.

The agriculturists enjoy forest privileges and concessions in respect of grazing and forest produce. An agriculturist, possessing eight cattle-heads is allowed free grazing for four cattle-heads and for remaining at privileged rates. Agriculturists owning more than eight cattle-heads are allowed six units per plough of land under cultivation and the remainder at commercial rates. The privileged rates are low which come to about half the commercial rates. This concession is given to cattle owned by agriculturists. Only timber and fuel is allowed for bonafide consumption at non-competitive rates which come to about half the rates prevailing in the market. Besides, the use of water and minerals in the reserved forests for agricultural purposes is allowed free.

Forest Villages.

For the supply of dependable labour on the forest works, forest villages have been established in the reserved forests. They are sanctioned under the orders of the Conservator of Forests. A villager is given a plot of land admeasuring about 13 to 15 acres or one plough land at a nominal rent of Re. 1.00. He is also given the forest produce needed for his bonafide requirements free of cost. The Forest department looks after the welfare of the villagers and provides them with amenities of life such as water supply, education and medical help. The adult villagers in turn have to discharge certain obligations. They are to abide by the orders of the forest officer and to attend to forest operations on the payment of wages at the rates prescribed by the department. These villages are in fact labour colonies which are mainly responsible for the protection of forests and execution of the exploitation and conservancy works.

Van Mahotsava.

The ' Van Mahotsava ' initially started under the orders of the Government of India has now become a national festival. It is celebrated each year in the first fortnight of July. The object of the festival is to encourage the planting of trees by all in suitable places to make up for the deficit of areas of forest which is expected at 33 1/3 per cent of the total available area. The object is to ameliorate the climatic conditions and to conserve soil and moisture. Plants for the ' Van Mahotsava ' are supplied free by the Forest Department. For this purpose nurseries have been raised at Wardha, Chandani, Ashti, Sarwadi and Chanki.

Propaganda about the availability of seeds and seedlings is made through the Zilla Parishad and the Village Panchayats. Instructions are given on the planting of the trees and their after-care and the benefits the individual and the community may derive from the successful planting of trees. The observance of the festival from year to year has encouraged the people to plant trees and preserve the forest flora.

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