When IFS Vikas Ujjawal was posted in Jahrkhand’s Lohardaga Forest Division, the region was plagued with illegal tree felling and forest fires. Here’s how he increased green cover, generated employment for locals and boosted ecotourism.
when the 2016-batch Indian Forest Officer (IFS), Vikas Ujjawal, was posted as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) he saw a plethora of problems that were responsible for the stunted growth of Jharkhand’s Lohargada district.
In the Naxal-affected region, the primary source of villagers’ income came from illegally felling trees and selling them to industries. Rampant forest fires, destruction of Sal stumps, violence between authorities and Naxalites were other issues that needed immediate attention.
Needless to say, these problems had dramatically reduced the overall green cover of Dubang-Salgi Protected forest in Kuru range of Lohardaga Forest Division and thereby dried up natural water streams. This…