Nagaland tree planters appeal to lift ban on export of timber

Dimapur, Nov. 24 (EMN): Nagaland Tree Planters’ Association (NTPA) has appealed to the state government to lift the ban on export of timber outside Northeastern states by railways and allow export of timbers both finished and non-finished products in a more systematic methods.

The association, in a press statement issued by its media cell, pointed out that out of the total forest area, the state owns 11.70 per cent while the remaining 88.30 per cent is owned by private/community. In addition, it stated that the annual gross state value added by economic activity through forestry and logging in 2018-19 was INR 808 crore. It, therefore, stated that for a state like Nagaland, with limited opportunities, timber exports have become essential source of livelihood for many.

It, however, lamented that in the recent implementation, economy activities through forestry was portrayed negatively as a destructive force rather than an essential force of forestation and element of sustainable development. It added that the ban had resulted in the slowing down of development thereby aggravating the poverty of forest dependent communities and other vulnerable rural groups and forcing them into wasteful, unplanned depletion of forest resources in a struggle to improve the overall existence.

The association justified that in tree farming business, they follow all the norms and procedures as laid down by the Supreme Court and the state government as well as qualify all the criteria set by High Powered Commission (HPC) and the SIT constituted by Super Court under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Besides, it added that they contribute to the state exchequer through payment of royalties to the state government at the maximum rate irrespective of timber classes.

It also mentioned that tree farmers were not chance to even clear the back logs of the permitted schemes nor air their grievances despite paying all the royalties to the state government in advance as per allotted working schemes approved by the ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.

The association highlighted that the ban would only result in decrease of forest conservation and management in the overall process as most of the tree farmers and timber traders, who are directly or indirectly involved in the process of reforestation/ plantations, had to shift their profession which could result in adverse negative impact on forest conservation.

It added that the concept of permitting only export of finished wood products outside northeast states through railway also would not yield any positive results at present because of various factors involved. It argued that just for processing of timber alone, they have to undergo many stages which would cost wastage of time, energy and investment in the long run. Besides, it added that  to produce finished products, they need skilled and manual labours which is not readily available and might only promote outsiders and migrant labours in a larger scales since they do not have local skilled labourers.

The association went on to add that the finished products produced by them won’t meet the eyes of the buyers in the metropolitan cities stating that in this modern digital age, their products cannot compete with the high tech furniture pieces.

It reminded that in Mizoram, the government keeping in view the welfare of the tree farmers has allotted total number of 588 teak wagons for the quarter till May 2020 so that the tree farmers could export their cultivated goods in all forms. It added that other North eastern states are enjoying free movement of timbers without any hindrance or restrictions from the government, whereas in Nagaland, they hardly get provision for 30 to 40 wagons in general for one quarter. It also claimed that such facility was snatched away by banning it through cabinet approval Vide No. CAB 2/2013 (Pt) dated 28th July, 2020.

The association was of the view that the popular government should enforce blanket ban on plywood factories as well, if at all, environment conservation was the main subject of concern. It claimed that plywood factories devour maximum trees and consumes tons of firewood in its process, while at the same time mostly all the plywood units are run by outsiders/ non-Nagas engaging minimum of 200 to 250 migrant/illegal workers in a single unit.

In the light of the above stated circumstances, the association suggested the government to permit export of finished timber products/goods such as plywood, moulding beats and furniture within Northeastern states by road only and export unfinished timbers such as sawn/ fanta outside northeastern states by railways only through allotment of wagons on quarterly basis as permitted by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, government of India.