Technical assistance activities in India
FAO/IUFRO committee on bibliography
Forest workers
Forestry practices are well developed in India and there is a long tradition of sound forest management: utilization methods and the development of forest industries, on the other hand, have tended to lag behind.
The authorities in India have recognized this situation in formulating their requests to FAO for technical aid over the past six years. These requests have tended to fall into three categories:
1. Filling gaps in the field of forest research, as agreed by the Dehra Dun Forest Research Institute. Missions have been concerned with establishing programs for the control of desert encroachment; soil conservation and watershed management; on forest influences (effects particularly on water flow and water supplies); and relating to genetics (forest tree improvement). The expert on forest influences research (B. Frank) is now in India, but the genetics expert will start his assignment towards the end of the year.2. Improving the efficiency and lowering the cost of logging and timber extraction. Experts have been assigned to help create a mechanical logging branch at the Dehra Dun Institute, to advise on programs for promoting efficiency and research in timber harvesting, to institute training of forest workers and advise on high mountain timber extraction. These efforts culminated in the organization in 1958 of a mobile logging and primary conversion demonstration center in mountain country. Further follow-up work has been planned to be carried out in 1960.
3. The development of forest industries and more intensive use of the available wood resources. In this field FAO has provided experts to advise on modern wood preservation practices and their application in industry; the protection of wood against marine borers; the creation of a timber engineering unit at Dehra Dun; and on improved resin tapping and manufacturing processes. Experts have advised on the development of sawmills in the Andamans, on the development of the plywood and tea chest manufacturing industry throughout India, and on a development plan for forest industries in Assam. A country-wide survey of pulp and paper development possibilities has been undertaken. Action to implement the recommendations made has been taken at the federal level, by the states, and by industries.
While these various activities have been going on, the Forest Department has undertaken a study of national forest resources and future wood requirements, in connection with the current FAO project to appraise the regional wood resources and requirements (Far East Timber Trends Study). The resultant analysis has given a clear picture of the resources available and what the consumption requirements are likely progressively to become.
The next stage is to draw up, in collaboration with the federal forest authority, the planning commission and appropriate ministries, and with the states, a plan for the integrated development of forest industries throughout the country for better and more economical use of the available resources and to provide new products to meet in the highest degree possible future requirements. For this purpose, an FAO expert (J. von Monroy) is assigned to India through 1959, to be joined later in the year by two short-term experts specialized ill particular industries.
The plans and recommendations emerging from this mission, which will extend into 1960, will be incorporated into the next national five-year economic development plan. In due course, there will emerge from this plan the future shape of FAO technical assistance activities in India.
In Unasylva, Volume 11, Number 3, 1957, in an article, "Forestry Bibliography", the method of procedure for the development of amendements to the Oxford System of Decimal Classification for Forestry (O.D.C.) was outlined and, in accordance with the ruling that any decisions taken in this matter would be notified in Unasylva, the first amendment, as authorized at the Joint Committee's Ninth Session at Oxford in July 1956 was published in the same issue.
The Joint Committee met again at Helsinki in May 1958, where further proposals were examined and discussed. As a result, notification is made of the following decisions:
Amendment No. 2., as authorized by the Joint FAO/IUFRO Committee on Bibliography (Helsinki, May, 1958)
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161.4 |
add, |
including growth regulators. |
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232.322.44 |
add |
and household refuse. |
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232.322.49 |
add, |
including soil conditioners, e.g. Krilium. |
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add 440 |
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General matters. Predisposing factors and causes (including forecasting of outbreaks). [Cross-reference to other subdivisions of 44 as appropriate.] |
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525.5 |
Interpolate |
Actual versus nominal outturn (including Ernteverlust). |
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between Merchantable dimensions and volume... and Deductions for defect, etc. |
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add 560 |
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General matters (including sampling methods in increment determination). |
The German text of the amendment is being made available in the leading Austrian, German and Swiss forestry periodicals appearing at about this time.
At the invitation of the Spanish-language representative on the Committee, Don Manuel Neira, who is Chairman of the Spanish Forestry Bibliography and Terminology Commission, the next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held in Madrid in September 1959. Any proposals for new or altered subheads, which should be submitted to the Joint Committee via the Commonwealth Forestry Bureau at Oxford, England, will be examined and discussed on that occasion.
FAO was represented at the Tripartite Technical Meeting on the Timber Industry, organized by the International Labour Organisation at Geneva, 8 to 19 December 1958. The agenda of this meeting, the first called to deal with forest workers, covered the general field of operations carried out within or in the neighborhood of the forest area, accident prevention, conditions of work and workers' welfare in logging camps, and labor-management relations.
The Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation was invited to study means whereby greater stability of employment might he secured in forest industries; to continue co-operation with FAO and the Economic Commission for Europe on forest working techniques and vocational training; to improve safety in forest operations; and to cooperate with FAO and the World Health Organization in studying the food requirements of workers engaged in strenuous physical work in various climates. It was proposed that a new Industrial Committee be set up to deal with forest industries, particularly conditions of employment and living conditions.
A chart showing the utilization of roundwood removals, as percentages of the world total, in 1957.
Source, FAO Yearbook of Forest Products Statistics, 1958.
