Gajapati (Odisha) [India]: The once-thriving Red Sanders forest in Odisha’s Gajapati district is now facing severe depletion, raising concerns among environmentalists and authorities. Historically, the district was home to the largest Red Sanders forest in Asia, but illegal logging and poor management have led to a drastic reduction in tree numbers.
Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) S. Anand expressed concern over the situation, attributing the decline to systemic loopholes and illicit activities.
“During the reign of the Paralakhemundi Maharaja, Red Sanders trees were planted on a large scale and were well maintained. There was no destruction during his time. However, due to improper arrangements and loopholes in the system, people from neighbouring states are now illicitly cutting and taking away these highly valuable trees, which also have significant medicinal uses,” he told ANI.
The DFO highlighted that the lack of effective management has allowed illegal logging to persist, leading to a sharp decline in tree numbers.
“The number of trees has drastically declined. For thousands of years, proper plantation efforts were carried out, but now only 3,000 to 4,000 trees remain,” he added.
The Red Sanders trees were initially planted by Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati in the areas of Gosani block’s Labanyagada and Guma block’s Namnagada. Over time, however, they have become vulnerable to illegal felling despite the Forest Department’s efforts to safeguard them.
The Maharaja, known for his public welfare initiatives, played a crucial role in establishing the Red Sanders forest after ascending to the throne of Paralakhemundi in 1913. He sourced trees from different locations and created a dedicated forest near Paralakhemundi, which later came under the Forest Department’s jurisdiction.
Currently, trees in the Mahendragiri and Devagiri forest ranges are being cut down, leading to widespread concern among conservationists. Although the exact number of trees planted by the Maharaja is unknown, it is estimated that around 12,000 were initially cultivated.
Environmental activists have criticized the Forest Department and the government for failing to protect the forest and for not taking adequate steps to replenish lost trees. They argue that despite the significant depletion, no large-scale replantation has taken place, and security measures remain inadequate.
In response, DFO S. Anand assured that efforts are being made to safeguard the remaining trees.
“Various measures have been taken to protect the Red Sanders forest. The trees are being numbered, and GPS tracking is also being done,” he said.
Activists continue to urge the government to take immediate action to preserve the remaining trees and initiate new plantation projects to restore the lost forest cover.