Tripura Forest

Tripura has a geographical area of 10,490 square km. Of which 6292 square km. (59.98%) is the forest area as per legal classification in the state and only 21.23% (as per FSI report, 1999) are well

stocked, the remaining forest areas are degraded. Due to 856 km long international borders with Bangladesh, the trans border-conservation is one of the most serious problems leading to degradation of existing forest. Tripura are divided into two major forest types. These are – (a) evergreen forest (b) moist deciduous forest. Moist deciduous forests are further divided in two district categories, namely (i) moist deciduous Sal forests and (ii) moist deciduous mixed forest. Moist deciduous Sal forest covers parts of Belonia, Udaipur, and Sonamura and Sadar sub-divisions.
The clean natural environment is dependent on the forest mostly. Plants, animals, rich bio-diversity, land, soil water, air, are the component of environment and any breach of the above affect the system and dislocate the human’s need-habited and mode of life.

Contribution of forestry sector to rural economy.

Forest is the complex system of resource stock providing a variety of valuable services like timber, food, fodder, services landscape, peace and solitude. Efficient use of the resource for welfare economy conditions is attended.
The revenue from forest in 2002-03 is around 436.10 lakhs, and the subsidy that flows to the rural economy on account of free removal of only five items forest produce has been conservatively estimated to the more than rs. 12,926 lakhs, which is about 5.58% of state domestic product (sdp). This does not take into account of edible fruit, tuber/roots, medicinal plants, edible bamboo shoots, forest food-vegetables and other non-timber forest produces. The indirect benefit from forest such as soil and water conservation, air quality control, biomass and soil fertility restoration and control of hydrological cycle etc.

Forest composition and growing stock

Blessed with high rainfall, humidity and nutrient rich soil the forest of the state is rich productivity zone and potential productivity index is estimated to be 9-12 cubic metre per hactre per year.

Inventory survey carried out by forest survey of India gives the account of composition of growing stock of Tripura as follows: -

(Source: director of economics and statistics, government of Tripura and inventory survey carried out by forest survey of India report, 2001)

There are 266- species of medicinal plants and other important tree species accounts 379- tree species, 320- shrubs, 581- herbs, 165- climbers, 16- climbing shrubs, 35- ferns, 45- epiphytes and 4- parasites, there are 50- species restricted to Tripura only. 2- primitive plants and 7- endangered plants are available in Tripura.

Protected area network (pas)

Bio-diversity of the state is dwindling at an alarming rate. Pursuant to the need for conservation and development of bio-diversity in situ, a network of 4 sanctuaries had been established in the state during the last decade.

The pas represent diverse eco-system and wildlife habitat spread through out the entire state prioritized for protection and conservation of diversity both floral and fantastic.

Sanctuary wise position with targeted species for conservation

Notification under section 26(a) of WL (p) act is yet to be issued for all the 4 sanctuaries, proclamation by collector under section 21 has been issued and required enquiries are in progress. The pa’s are isolated as “islands” amidst agricultural land and human settlements. These are under tremendous stress and man and animal conflict is on the rise. Identified areas of actual and potential conflicts with surrounding population are, unauthorized collection of timber, fuel wood, nwfp.