FRA 2005 – Pilot study for country reporting: India

T4. Characteristics of Forests and Other Wooded Lands

The information on “forest characteristics ” is essential for development of appropriate efficient silvicultural and management practices to ensure and promote sustainability of forest resources. These practices will define the future structure and composition of forest resources and their ability to provide goods and services.

A. Global Classification and Definitions (FRA 2005)

Primary Forests

Forests of native species, where ecological processes are undisturbed by human activities. Forest management plan may or may not exist.

Modified Natural Forests

Forests of native species or naturally regenerating introduced species, where ecological processes have been disturbed by human activities and it includes forests established through natural and or assisted natural regeneration. Forest management plan may or may not exist

Semi-Natural Forests

The “Forests” of native species or naturally regenerating introduced species established through natural or assisted natural regeneration. The forests are under intensive forest management.

Productive Forest Plantation

The “Forests” of “introduced species”, established through planting or seeding mainly for production of wood or non wood goods.

Protective Forest Plantation

The “Forests” of introduced species, established through planting or seeding mainly for provision of forest services, e.g. soil and water conservation, pest control, and conservation of (habitat) biological diversity.

Primary

“Other Wooded Land”

The “Other Wooded land” of native species, where ecological processes are undisturbed by human activities. Forest management plan may or may not exist.

Modified

“Other Wooded Land”

The “Other Wooded land” of native species or naturally regenerating introduced species, where ecological processes have been disturbed by human activities and it includes “Other Wooded Land” established through natural and or assisted natural regeneration.

Semi-Natural

“Other Wooded Land”

The “Other Wooded Land” of native species or naturally regenerating introduced species established through natural or assisted natural regeneration. Such “Other wooded lands” are under intensive management although a formal management plan may or may not exist.

Protective “Other Wooded Land” Plantation

The “Other Wooded Land” of “introduced species”, established through planting or seeding mainly to provide service of protection to soil and water resources.

Source: FAO. 2004. Terms and Definition FRA-2005. FRA Working paper 73. Rome

B. National Data Sources

Following form the basis of information for this global table.

- SFR, 1993. State of Forest Resources 1993. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

- SFR, 1995. State of Forest Resources 1995. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

- SFR, 1997. State of Forest Resources 1997. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

- SFR, 1999. State of Forest Resources 1999. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

- SFR, 2001. State of Forest Resources, 2001. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

- Forestry Statistics 1996. 1998. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, Uttaranchal, India.

- Forestry Statistics 2000. 2002. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, Uttaranchal, India.

- India Input Tables for FRA 2000. 1999. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

C. National Classification and Definitions

No standard national definitions

D. National Data

National information is not available in FRA 2005 classes. Therefore information has been derived by using following assumptions. Further, the national information provides combined area of “forest” and “other wooded land”. Therefore, information by each class is divided between the two taking care that there is no class like “productive OWL plantations”.

(1) Primary : No information is available

(2) Semi – Natural: This information has been derived by computing area of the forest “land” (“Forests” plus other wooded land”) that is not under any management plans (15% of the total) plus the area of forests under protected areas.

(3) Modified: This information has been derived by computing area of the forest land less area of PAs and Plantations (Introduced species) that is under management (85 percent of the total)

(4) Productive Plantation (introduced species): First area of total plantation have been computed and then based on percentage area of introduced species (rounded to 15 percent) from the input tables of FRA 2000, the area of plantation of introduced species has been derived. The breakdown between productive and protective is explained below.

(5) Protective Plantation (introduced species) : Area of plantation under national category “others” (other than for industrial round wood and fuelwood etc.) has been taken as that of protective plantation and rest treated as productive. The ratio between protective and productive plantation areas for 1997 was calculated and applied to figures after 1997 for break down. The level plantation activity in 1997 was assumed to continue in future to arrive at figures for 100 and 2005. Further, all forest plantations on public lands are assumed to be on forest land (legal definition) that includes “forests” and “other wooded land” (FRA 2005 definition).

E. Calibration

The total area of “Forests” under various national classes of characteristics defined matches with total in National Reporting Table 1 hence no calibration is needed.

F. Estimation and Forecasting

The national data estimating for 1990, 2000 and 2005 in global table 1 has been classified into global classes using assumption mentioned in section D above.

G. Reclassification into FRA 2005 Classes

Assuming that plantation other for industrial round wood and fuelwood are for “protective” purposes.

Table: Reclassification (Percentage allocation) into FRA 2005 classes

National Classes

Percentage of a National Class into a FRA class

Pri

F

Mod

F

Semi

F

Prod Pl F

Prot Pl F

Pri OWL

Mod OWL

Semi OWL

Prot Pl OWL

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Forest not under management plans

100

100

Forest (Less PA) with Management Plans

100

100

Protected Areas

100

100

Industrial and Fuelwood Plantation

100

Other Plantations

100

100

Note: F = Forests, OWL = Other Wooded lands, Pl = Plantation, Pri = Primary, Mod = Modified, Semi = Semi-Natural, and Prod = Production and Prot = Protective

H. National Information for FRA 2005 Global Tables

FRA 2005 Classes

Area in 000 ha

1990

2000

2005

Primary Forest

NA

NA

NA

Modified Forest

19861.5

21912.4

21972.6

Semi- Natural Forest

42053.3

42696.1

42321.7

Productive Forest Plantation

708.3

1007.7

1160.2

Protective Forest Plantation

1315.5

1937.6

2246.1

Primary "Other Wooded Land"

NA

NA

NA

Modified "Other Wooded Land

1851.5

1557.8

1357.3

Semi- Natural "Other Wooded Land"

3920.2

3035.4

2614.3

Protective “Other Wooded Land" Plantation

122.6

137.8

138.8

Total

69832.9

72284.8

71810.9

Primary Forests	Forests of native species, where ecological processes are undisturbed by human activities. Forest management plan may or may not exist.
Modified Natural Forests	Forests of native species or naturally regenerating introduced species, where ecological processes have been disturbed by human activities and it includes forests established through natural and or assisted natural regeneration. Forest management plan may or may not exist
Semi-Natural Forests	The “Forests” of native species or naturally regenerating introduced species established through natural or assisted natural regeneration. The forests are under intensive forest management.
Productive Forest Plantation	The “Forests” of “introduced species”, established through planting or seeding mainly for production of wood or non wood goods.
Protective Forest Plantation	The “Forests” of introduced species, established through planting or seeding mainly for provision of forest services, e.g. soil and water conservation, pest control, and conservation of (habitat) biological diversity.
Primary “Other Wooded Land”	The “Other Wooded land” of native species, where ecological processes are undisturbed by human activities. Forest management plan may or may not exist.
Modified “Other Wooded Land”	The “Other Wooded land” of native species or naturally regenerating introduced species, where ecological processes have been disturbed by human activities and it includes “Other Wooded Land” established through natural and or assisted natural regeneration.
Semi-Natural “Other Wooded Land”	The “Other Wooded Land” of native species or naturally regenerating introduced species established through natural or assisted natural regeneration. Such “Other wooded lands” are under intensive management although a formal management plan may or may not exist.
Protective “Other Wooded Land” Plantation	The “Other Wooded Land” of “introduced species”, established through planting or seeding mainly to provide service of protection to soil and water resources.

National Classes	Percentage of a National Class into a FRA class
	Pri F	Mod F	Semi F	Prod Pl F	Prot Pl F	Pri OWL	Mod OWL	Semi OWL	Prot Pl OWL
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Forest not under management plans			100					100
Forest (Less PA) with Management Plans		100					100
Protected Areas			100					100
Industrial and Fuelwood Plantation				100
Other Plantations					100				100

FRA 2005 Classes	Area in 000 ha
	1990	2000	2005
Primary Forest	NA	NA	NA
Modified Forest	19861.5	21912.4	21972.6
Semi- Natural Forest	42053.3	42696.1	42321.7
Productive Forest Plantation	708.3	1007.7	1160.2
Protective Forest Plantation	1315.5	1937.6	2246.1
Primary "Other Wooded Land"	NA	NA	NA
Modified "Other Wooded Land	1851.5	1557.8	1357.3
Semi- Natural "Other Wooded Land"	3920.2	3035.4	2614.3
Protective “Other Wooded Land" Plantation	122.6	137.8	138.8
Total	69832.9	72284.8	71810.9