Forests

Government Forests

The Government forests cover an area of 516 square miles or 13 percent of that of the District. They comprise two main tracts; the first is situated on the foot hills of the Satpuras on both sides of the Pench river, in Ramtek tahsil, and is divided into the east and west Pench ranges with a total area of 343 square miles, while the second consists of a series of scattered blocks extending from the west of Katol to the south and east of Umrer, and covers 173 square miles, being divided into the Umrer and Kondhali ranges. The rock-formation of the Pench valley forests is almost entirely granite, and that of the two smaller ranges, trap. Small teak is scattered through the Pench valley forests, mixed with bamboos in the north along the hills of the west Pench range. The Kondhali forests contain small but good teak in the central blocks from Katol to the railway, but poor mixed coppices to the noeth, while in Umrer many of the blocks produce litter but grass, brushwood and a scrubby growth of palas(Butea frondosa). Saj (Terminalia tomentosa) is common in all forests, and  the other most important trees and tinsa (Ougeinia dalbergioides), tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon), lendia (Lagerstraemia parviflora) and dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), mixed with the inferior species prevailing in mixed forests. The isolated coppices of the Umrer and Kondhali ranges have been much cut over and now contain litter or no timber of any size. The Pench forests contain some areas which have been completely conserved for many years, but these are still so inaccessible that Government is easily undersold by the owners of private forests. Working-plans have now been applied to the whole area with the exception of some scattered stretches of grazing land, and the ranges are divided into 30 coupes, on e of which is cut over annually. For many years the coupes will yield little but fuel and ill-grown timber, but their present annual capacities, if fully worked up to, are estimated as representing a money value of about half a lakh of rupees or at the rate of Rs. 1000 a square mile (or 1½  annas per acre). There are also fodder reserves with a total area of about 24,000 acres, which in normal years are let on lease. All forests produce is disposed of by license or contract.

Statistics Of Revenue

The following statement shows the revenue under the principal heads in different years:

The demand for timber and fuel is now very active owning to the increased number of factories and mills. It is probable that about 150,000 cattle now enter the forests annually for grazing purposes. The following statement shows the revenue and expenditure of the Forest Department in different years:

Special measures for protection from fire were extended to about 260 square miles in 1906-07 at a cost of nearly Rs. 3000 or Rs. 11 per square mile. In this year the forest staff comprised a Deputy Conservator, three Rangers, three Deputy Rangers, 7 Foresters and 100 Forest Guards.

In addition to the Government reserves the District has 418 square miles of private forests, including 182 miles of tree forest and 236 of scrub jungle and grass. The total woodland area is thus 934 square miles of 24 percent of that of the District, a larger proportion than one would have been inclined to suppose. The central and southern portions of Umrer and a part of Nagpur are very bare of trees, but the remainder of the District and especially Katol is well wooded. There are some good private teak forests on the Kauras plateau at Suardara in north Bhiugarh and in the border tracts of the Bela and Girar parganas, and some fair mixed forest on the northern hills of Ramtek and in a few localities near Katol. The other private forests are situated on the northern hills of Katol, the ranges near Parseoni and Mansar, the Makardhokra ridge lands in Umrer and the country just west of Nagpur. In these tracts the growth of timber is very poor, but there are some fine grass reserves which are a source of great profit to their proprietors. Fuel is also abundant and now commands a very good price. A certain proportion of the forest land is culturable and since Mr. Craddock’s settlement its area has decreased by 71 square miles. At settlement the income from private forests was estimated at Rs. 31,000 or an anna and a half per acre.

Roadside Avenues

Of  a length of 252 miles on 19 roads in charge of the Public Works Department, 78 miles have established avenues and 53 miles run through forest where they are not required. A length of 131 miles is thus provided for. Of the remainder 75 miles have partial or incomplete avenues and 46 miles are without them. The principal established avenues are for 23 miles on the Great Northern Road, 16 miles on the Great Eastern Road, 16 miles on the Umrer road five on the Katol and three on the Chhindwara road. The annual expenditure of the Department is from three to four thousand rupees, and almost the whole of this is spent on nurseries and maintenance and on filling up gaps in existing avenues, so that practically no fresh plantation is possible. In order to keep up a steady supply of plants, a total of fifteen nurseries are maintained on a modest scale at convenient centers. A scheme for the completion of the avenue along the whole length of the Great Northern Road has now been projected. The District has seven military camping-grounds at Mahalgaon, Mahoda, Indora, Mansar, Deolapar, Koradi and Pipri. These are being provided with groves, and more than 1500 saplings were put in during 1907. The District Council have charge of eight roads with a total length of 164 miles. Of these, 31 miles have incomplete avenues and 12 miles do not require planting. The existing avenues are on the southern road through Takalghat, the Nagpur-Kamptee road through Karamna, and the Dumri-Yerkhera and Bori-Umrer roads. The Council spend about Rs. 1800 annually on maintaining and completing the avenues on these roads, and maintaining nurseries at suitable centres. It has also undertaken to plant groves on seven camping-grounds and about 40 market places. Roadside arboriculture is conducted by the sub-overseers attached to Local Boards, while the grooves are left to members of the Boards.

The trees which commonly constitute the avenues are babul (Acacia arabica), chichwa (Albizzia procera), nim (Melia indica), bakain (Melia Azadirachta), pakhar (Ficus infectoria), banyan, mahua and tamarind. In future banyan, mahua and mango, as the best shade-giving trees will usually be planted, trees being provided in the new avenues at a distance of 50 feet apart. The station of Nagpur has also 15 roads of short lengths which are being planted with avenues by the Civil Station Committee. A large number of  cork trees (Millingtonia hortensis) have formerly been planted on these roads, and this tree is not suitable for avenues as it is liable to rapid decay and is easily uprooted. The existing trees have consequently been pollarded at a height of 20 feet. Other existing trees, which are considered unsuitable, are teak and gold mohur (Poinciana regia). The saplings are now provided with metal tree-guards, which are neat and ornamental and can be removed from one tree to another as required.