Separate institute for forest diseases needed
What is the state of research on forest diseases?
Indian Council of Forest Research and Education (icfre) has 11 different institutes that are mandated to conduct forest diseases research. Besides most of the states have their own research institutes. But none is totally dedicated for forest disease and there is a need to have a separate institute for forest diseases at the national level.
Who handles forest diseases?
While foresters and scientists are engaged in handling forest diseases in laboratories and sample plots, there are no scientists yet employed in day to day handling of forest diseases in vast forest management units in India.
Are forest officials sufficiently trained enough to tackle forest diseases?
Forest officials are from scientific streams and are trained in basics required in day to day management of forests. They are also trained in handling common forest diseases.
Any estimate of revenue or economic loss of forest resources?
Composition of forests are living organisms. Forest give tangible and intangible benefits. It is not possible to assess revenue or economic loss. Just like malaria or plague,forest diseases are endemic epidemics.
What about ecological loss?
Nature has in built mechanism to control the population of each constituent for maintaining balance between species. Undesirable increase in population of one species is controlled by increase in population of the others. To say that there is ecological loss would not be true. So far there has been no such epidemic that has affected forest cover.
Any trend study on the implication of forest diseases on the health of forests in India?
Yes. Various studies have been conducted from time to time and the results are blended in management practices presented in the working and management plans of forest management units. Prevention, detection and control measures are prescribed as suitable ways.