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“FSI
is well equipped with state of the art systems“ |
Forest
Survey of India celebrates 25 years. On this occation
we spoke with Dr
D. Pandey, Director General, FSI |
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| What is the mandate of FSI? |
The
broad mandate of the Forest Survey of India is to assess
and monitor the forest resources of the country to provide
reliable information on various parameter of the resources
such as forest cover, its quality and the changes, volume
of the growing stock of wood within forest and in trees
outside forests, monitor success of plantation efforts
etc. for state and national level planning. |
 |
| FSI is celebrating 25th
years of its existence. Would you like to highlight its
three major achievements? |
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Reliable data on the forest
cover of the country was first time estimated by
the Forest Survey of India in 1987 which was hitherto
not known.
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Estimation of growing stock of
wood in the forests of India was first time achieved
by the FSI in 1995.
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Regular reporting of the forest
cover of the country on the two year cycle has created
a sense of alertness among the State/UT Forest Departments.
Through capacity building programme of the FSI the
use of modern technology and methods of survey such
as remote sensing, GIS, GPS and data processing
software for inventories are establishing its roots
to State/UT Forest Departments.
|
Please
tell us the role of Geomatics in the activities of FSI? |
FSI has gradually
progressed to adopt the geomatics as the basic science
in the assessment of the forest resources, Digital image
processing of the remote sensing data for classifying
the forest cover and use of GPS for ground truthing
and estimation of forest plantation areas has become
quite popular. Operationalyzing of geomatics fully in
all the activities of FSI is the only option to enhance
accuracy and speed in assessing the forest resources. |
What
is the status of geomatics capabilities in terms of
infrastructure and trained manpower? |
Adoption
of any new technology is a time taking process. Geomatics
infrastructure has gradually grown in the organization
and presently the FSI is well equipped with state of
the art systems for carrying out RS, GIS & GPS applications.
Through the regular programmes of skill upgradation,
the technical personnel of the organization have been
trained to use the new technology. Furthermore, trained
young professionals in geomatics have also been engaged
in various projects being implemented by the FSI. |
Do
you have any programme for forest fire monitoring? |
FSI is using
the rapid response system developed by Maryland University
of USA in collaboration with NASA where MODIS satellite
data has been used for detection forest fire in India
on near real time basis during forest fire session (November
to May). The State Forest Departments wherever the fire
spots have been detected are informed on daily basis
along with geographic coordinates and approximate location
in the district. On analyzing the response of the State
Forest Departments more than 90% of the forest fire
incidence have been found to be correct. FSI is now
proposing to assess the area of forest affected due
to fire by analyzing the remote sensing data of the
periods immediately followed by forest fire. |
What
role do you see of FSI in NSDI? |
Forest cover data is in demand by Forest Department
of the State and UTs
and also by developments agencies like Irrigation
Department, PWD, Railways, Rural Development and also
by NGOs. On the other hand FSI uses data from Survey
of India and NRSA. FSI is a partner to NSDI process,
Operationalyzing of NSDI with meta data standards
and application protocol will facilitate sharing of
the data both by FSI and other stake holders.
|
| What is the status of forest
in India in your perception? |
With the increasing
population pressure and land hunger, India’s forests
face a great challenge. Though at places forests get
degraded but the stringent Forest Conservation Act supported
the National Afforestation Programme has helped in maintaining
and improving the forest and tree cover of the country.
The preacher co-active role played by the environmentalists
and NGOs also needs to be appreciated. |
| What steps you envisage
for forest conservations? |
Most of the States/UTs
Forest Departments are following JFM formula. It is
important that JFM areas are monitored periodically
to know the impact of JFM on the development of forest
resources and biodiversity besides its impact on socio-economic
conditions of the participating village community. In
addition strengthening front line field staff who are
responsible for conservation/protection is extremely
important as over the
years the number is going down due to sluggishness in
the recruitment.
|
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Dr.
D Pandey, completed M.Sc in Statistics
in 1971 from Allahabad University and joined the
Indian Forest Service in 1975 and was allotted
AGMUT cadre. Served in various capacities in the
cadre and on central deputation as Faculty member
of Forest Research Institute & Colleges. Completed
Ph.D. (Forestry) from Swedish University of Agricultural
sciences (Sweden) in 1996 with specialisation
in ‘Forest Resources Assessment’.
|
Served as Director, Forest Survey of India during
1997 – 2000. Has several national and international
publications and monographs and has been a team
leader and consultant in several important forest
related studies at the international level. |
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| September
2006 |
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