Tree planting is an entrenched part of the cultural, economic and ecological traditions of India. Trees outside forests (TOF) grow on a variety of landscapes and include a unique range of species that are specific to the local environmental and socio-cultural conditions. TOF are an important source of wood and non-wood products, and they have a great influence on the extent, health and productivity of public forests. Unfortunately, their importance has not been properly assessed or recognized by the mainstream policies of land management.
In view of the growing emphasis on sustainable forest management (SFM), tree resources outside public and private forests have been receiving attention from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other international organizations. At the national level, the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun has been actively engaged in the national assessment of TOF since 1991, and the exercise has spread across several states. Such efforts require substantial resources and manpower. As the national node for SFM, the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) started networking with different public institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and scientists who are interested in SFM and assessment of TOF.
Apart from FSI Dehradun, Dr. Ravindranath from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and Prof. K.C. Malhotra have been involved in TOF research, focusing on the socio-economic aspects of urban dwellers of Calcutta. I would like to acknowledge the motivation and technical guidance provided by Prof. Malhotra who has been instrumental in organizing the first workshop on the assessment of TOF in India, held from 5-6 June 2000 in Bhopal. His extensive NGO network has been instrumental in recruiting the participation of 30 NGOs for the workshop.
Following that workshop, FAO (Bangkok) supported IIFM’s efforts by providing technical and financial support for a three-day workshop at IIFM to consolidate and extend work on TOF. This valuable opportunity and financial assistance made it possible for us to network with other institutions and individuals, who are working on the same theme. I would like to thank Dr. Thomas Enters and Ms. Ma Qiang, both from FAO, for their expert guidance and support on the subject.
Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the cooperation of our sister organizations like FSI, Natural Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, Dr. Govil (FAO), and all the participants whose valuable inputs have contributed to the outcome of the exercise.
Profs. Kotwal, P. Bhattacharya, R.K. Singh, M.D. Omprakash, C.S. Rathore, and D.N. Pandey, and research staff like Dr. M. Mishra, Dr. D. Dugaya, Dr. S.K.S. Rathore, and Mr. Y.D. Jadhav at IIFM have also extended their cooperation in organizing the workshop.
Dr. Ram Prasad
Director, IIFM
