Kerala: Clear boundaries for forests in 2 years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state’s forest boundaries, which now remain undefined or vague in 2090 kilometres, will be fully demarcated in two years. The boundary demarcation drive has been in full swing in the last year. Between May 2016 and February 2018, 1175 kms were demarcated. The extent of the state’s forest boundary is 16845 kms, meaning 14755 kms have already been either naturally or officially demarcated.

“We are using state-of-the-art survey equipment like total station to conduct the survey,” forest minister K. Raju said. The largest stretch of forest fringe without a clearly defined border, 1092 kms, runs along the High Range Circle, Kottayam. This ‘any man’s land’ nature of land near supposed boundaries has not just encouraged unbridled encroachments but has also prevented thousands of farmers or those living in the shadow of the forest from selling their land in times of need like the education of their children or marriage. Without a definite border, it is also impossible to mark the buffer zone between forest and non-forest land.
Large “open” stretches are already taking its toll on the conservation activities of the Forest Department.

Illegal activities like encroachments and mining virtually go unnoticed because the Department has no clear idea where the forests begin. “Forest land is so scattered that it is hard to differentiate between forest and non-forest areas. Identifying buffer zones, therefore, becomes virtually impossible,” a DFO in a southern division said. The Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules stipulate that quarrying should be held at least 100 metres away from the forest boundary.
The absence of a dividing line affects families living near the forest.

“They do not have title deeds over their land as they find it virtually impossible to get the mandatory ‘no objection certificates’ from government authorities for the registration of their land,” said Rajeevan Plathottam, a tribal activist. Such a requirement, the securing of an NOC to get a land registered, was introduced through an amendment to the Registration Act in 2012. “While demarcating forest lands we have also decided to declare as reserved forest ‘puromboke’ and other government lands that are ecologically crucial,” the forest minister said.