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Population density and human pressure on forest are not correlated says Mr. Joachim Schmerbeck from Teri University, India

Wed, 09/26/2012 - 09:21 — De-Registered User
The Forestry session of the Tropentag 2012 was moderated by Mr. Johannes Dietz from the World Agroforestry centre (ICRAF), Kenya. There were four presentations in the session of which Mr. Joachim Schmerbeck was the first speaker. He presented the findings of his research on the topic can development interventions reduce human pressure on forest? a case study from a long term observation in India. He explained that various researchers have tried over the years to determine the relationship between population and forest degradation in an area with some concluding that there is no relationship while others reported a positive relationship. The objective of his research was to determine this relationship by using long term observation. The study lasted for 21 years in the Kadavakurichi area in Tamil Nadu. In 1991, it was found that 1,707 people entered the forest on the seven days of survey, most of them for grazing, hunting, collection of fuel wood, manure and medicines. A total of 22,918 heads of livestock entered the forest of which almost 50% were from outside the study area. In 2012 the observation changed from what was found in 1991. 37% less people were found entering the forest. The main change was found among people collecting fuel wood and other products while there were almost no changes in number of people entering the forest for grazing. Mr. Schmerbeck concluded that, • The pressure on the forest in the study area has reduced in the past 20 years. • Population density and human pressure on forest are not correlated. • Many people are involved in the development programmes and benefitted. • People have other sources of income of which much can be allocated to development initiatives. • Goat rearing seems to be unaffected by these changes.
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