Andhra Pradesh: A holistic approach to save forests in Eastern Ghats

Forest officials work out a model to ensure sustainable living for tribals as part of the plan to discourage podu cultivation

The Eastern Ghats, one of the prominent mountain ranges in India, run through the States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Geologists predict that it was formed in the late Archean age that could range back to 4,500 million years to 2,500 million years.

A major part of this range that runs through the undivided Visakhapatnam district, which has been split into Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharamaraju districts. Rich in minerals, flora and fauna, a major part of the forests cuts through the undivided Visakhapatnam district.

As per the Forest Department, the green cover of the Eastern Ghats spreads over around 4,500 sq km and it is a home to more than 120 rare and endangered species of trees. A part of this forest cover has been threatened by two perennial problems —Podu or shifting agriculture and forest fire.

As per a conservative estimate, about 7% to 8% of the forest have already been denuded owing to podu cultivation, an agriculture practice that has been followed by the tribal people since decades.

“This is a major challenge. We are working on an holistic approach to create awareness among the tribal people on the ill-effects of podu culture. At the same time, we are trying to provide them with an alternative crop pattern for a sustainable living,” says Visakhapatnam Divisional Forest Officer Anant Shankar.

Even as the districts have been reorganised, the area and scope of the Forest Department has not been defined yet as the old operational boundaries continue to exist.

In an attempt to understand the flora in this part of the Eastern Ghat and collect seeds and seedlings, the Forest Department launched a survey and research initiative a few months ago. “There are plenty of native species which have medicinal values. But, many of them are endangered. We are growing them at our central nursery in Kambalakonda,” says Mr. Anant Shankar.