Couple Buys 300 Acres Of Barren Land, Converts It Into India's First Private Wildlife Sanctuary

[surya kiran]

Why do i have to clutch at anything when your own article states that dense forest covers 4102 sq km of the district? Perhaps you should take time to read what you post. It is a forest area and that is how forest area is calculated in India. Untouched virgin forests are very rare to come by, may be Andaman and Nicobar Island and Arunachal Pradesh. Most other forests in India are interspersed up with commercial plantation. Or were you laboring under the impression that the 21% forest cover in India is all virgin forest territory?

No, I am aware of the legal ambiguity of a forest definition in India. I am also aware that % of forest cover will change due to change in the legal definition in the Kyoto Protocol. So let us not get into that.

Now, you picked up 1 number from the entire article and avoided the other numbers. What is your opinion on the % drop in forest cover? Or are you saying it did not happen?

 

[Samudra Manthan]

Now, you picked up 1 number from the entire article and avoided the other numbers. What is your opinion on the % drop in forest cover? Or are you saying it did not happen?

What drop? Indian forest cover has grown. Including Coorg. Deforestation means denuding land of tree cover. As long as the tree cover is intact, whether via plantations or wild natural growth, there is no deforestation. This is how Forestry as a science taught in every single country of the world.

 

[SR-91]

@Samudra Manthan @third eye @surya kiran @unbiasedopinion @Lokanath

If anything, we now know for sure that even 1 PERSON CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Rather than debating what they did or did not do, Let's change the conversation to how and what WE can do to play our part.

 

[surya kiran]

What drop? Indian forest cover has grown. Including Coorg. Deforestation means denuding land of tree cover. As long as the tree cover is intact, whether via plantations or wild natural growth, there is no deforestation. This is how Forestry as a science taught in every single country of the world.

Did you even read the article?

 

[Samudra Manthan]

@Samudra Manthan @third eye @surya kiran @unbiasedopinion @Lokanath

If anything, we now know for sure that even 1 PERSON CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Rather than debating what they did or did not do, Let's change the conversation to how and what WE can do to play our part.

I do not know of a single person who likes cutting of trees or not planting one. But for people's financial constraints and lack of space to plant trees, almost all the people I know would have planted huge number of trees. So this is not an argument at all.

Paid articles about how US couple came to India and taught Indians civilizational stuff such as not to hunt, not to build temples on mountain tops, and to plant entire rainforests on their own on barren wasted land is what I was arguing against.

Did you even read the article?

Yes, I read the article from TOIlet link that you posted. It claimed that the district had lost 86% of its forest in one place while it claimed that 86% of its land area is dense forest as reported by various NGOs in another place. It claimed some 46% of forest territory has become coffee plantation and claimed that was deforestation. So? It just shows it is another poorly researched farticle from TOI.

Whereas I posted a link from the College of Forestry talking about forest cover in Kodagu. Did you bother to read that. Or are you so enamoured with TOI and India Today that any further knowledge is deemed unnecessary by you?

Kodagu Model Forest | imfn.net

 

[kadamba-warrior]

No, I have no problem that they purchased 300 acres of land and let it go back to wild, if it was agriculture land as they claim it was. My problem is with falsehood being propagated and the couple claiming credit for planting a forest when they did no such thing or providing sanctuary to wild animals and rare species of plants and animals when they are in the protected zone. The concept of malls did not exist in 1990s in India and Kodagu district is no where even remotely comparable to Bangalore district in terms of land utility and prices.

For your information Kodagu district supports 10% of all forest in Karnataka. Forest area in Karnataka comprises of 38,720 sq km while entire Kodagu district measures 4102 sq km. Which means almost the entirety of Kodagu is a forest area and has zilch chance of ever being considered a waste land or a barren land.

May be you like deception and false promotions and are so starved for any good news that each and every falsehood is also preferable to you, but not everyone can have your level of comfort with such falsehoods. I have very low tolerance for lies.

I agree!

It is commendable that the couple didn't exploit the land for farming or just another coffee plantation, but to claim to turn a barren land into rain forest in a couple of decades is stretching the truth!

Coorg epitomizes the best and the most fertile land that Karnataka has to offer. Reforesting here, can often mean just leaving Mother Nature alone to heal herself.

So much so that, it almost seems impossible to stop the trees from growing in this region!

 

[SR-91]

I do not know of a single person who likes cutting of trees or not planting one. But for people's financial constraints and lack of space to plant trees, almost all the people I know would have planted huge number of trees. So this is not an argument at all.

Paid articles about how US couple came to India and taught Indians civilizational stuff such as not to hunt, not to build temples on mountain tops, and to plant entire rainforests on their own on barren wasted land is what I was arguing against.

Kodagu Model

 

[surya kiran]

I
Yes, I read the article from TOIlet link that you posted. It claimed that the district had lost 86% of its forest in one place while it claimed that 86% of its land area is dense forest as reported by various NGOs in another place. It claimed some 46% of forest territory has become coffee plantation and claimed that was deforestation. So? It just shows it is another poorly researched farticle from TOI.

Whereas I posted a link from the College of Forestry talking about forest cover in Kodagu. Did you bother to read that. Or are you so enamoured with TOI and India Today that any further knowledge is deemed unnecessary by you?

Kodagu Model Forest | imfn.net

If you realise the article has majority partners as coffee growers. That's like saying tobacco companies doing a research on how smoking does not cause cancer. So forgive me if I do not take it seriously.

Anyways, any knowledge is good. And I did read the article you provided. Can I ask you the same question? Does one article block all other sources? You seem to be quite aware of this topic. So I am assuming that you are also aware of forest classifications? Could it be that the reporter is reporting changes in forest cover and has has simplified it for the reader? Let us now also assume, this is not the case. And that it is blatantly non-knowedgable reporter.

What if I give you multiple sources which show drop in cover?

t is commendable that the couple didn't exploit the land for farming or just another coffee plantation, but to claim to turn a barren land into rain forest in a couple of decades is stretching the truth!

Honestly, I don't think it was barren land. Just land which grew coffee and they let it naturally grow back. Try spending that much money on a piece of land and then not make money out of it. That itself deserves to be applauded.

 

[Samudra Manthan]

If you realise the article has majority partners as coffee growers. That's like saying tobacco companies doing a research on how smoking does not cause cancer. So forgive me if I do not take it seriously.

Anyways, any knowledge is good. And I did read the article you provided. Can I ask you the same question? Does one article block all other sources? You seem to be quite aware of this topic. So I am assuming that you are also aware of forest classifications? Could it be that the reporter is reporting changes in forest cover and has has simplified it for the reader? Let us now also assume, this is not the case. And that it is blatantly non-knowedgable reporter.

What if I give you multiple sources which show drop in cover?

KODAGU FOREST COVER HAS INCREASED

Forest Survey of India report from 1995 giving the stats for the extent of forest cover and the composition of the forest.

http://fsi.nic.in/inventory_report/...entory of forest resources of Kodagu Dist.pdf

Anyways, any knowledge is good. And I did read the article you provided. Can I ask you the same question? Does one article block all other sources? You seem to be quite aware of this topic. So I am assuming that you are also aware of forest classifications? Could it be that the reporter is reporting changes in forest cover and has has simplified it for the reader? Let us now also assume, this is not the case. And that it is blatantly non-knowedgable reporter.

Does not matter here regarding the forest classification. No forest report will talk about scrub forest or mangrove forest in Coorg area.

I would assume the plantation owners there know a thing or two about forests more than the lot known as reporters working for TOI and IndiaToday.

Honestly, I don't think it was barren land. Just land which grew coffee and they let it naturally grow back. Try spending that much money on a piece of land and then not make money out of it. That itself deserves to be applauded.

This whole lot of land back in 1990 could have been purchased in a few lakhs of rupees which given the couple from US were earning in dollars would have been even more of a pittance. So try not to get overwhelmed so easily.

 

[Lokanath]

@Samudra Manthan @third eye @surya kiran @unbiasedopinion @Lokanath

If anything, we now know for sure that even 1 PERSON CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Rather than debating what they did or did not do, Let's change the conversation to how and what WE can do to play our part.

You see the problem with that approach is that it make false heroes while ignoring the real heroes. You can play your part by highlighting and honouring real heroes and dismissing paid puff pieces by a very "flexible" media that sell's its print for the right amount.

Some people play their part by standing up for the Truth. That too is an Indian way. Satyameva Jayathe.

 

[surya kiran]

I would assume the plantation owners there know a thing or two about forests more than the lot known as reporters working for TOI and IndiaToday.

Yes they do. And they definitely know they need to get the classifications in place before the Kyoto Protocol kicks in. Else, its trouble for them. Hence, the need for them to work and get those kind of reports posted which you linked to the first time

Does not matter here regarding the forest classification.

There are evergreen forests, dense, moderately dense, natural and so on. These classification will come into effect soon. These are on the basis of % of trees per acre and nature of growth and so on. Mangroves and scrubs are not what I meant. The fight between the different groups is the type of drop in percentages.

Does it ever occur to you, that sitting on that kind of land and what using it for coffee plantation would have got them? Most people would buy and put it to use. They let a natural sanctuary happen there.

Am uploading one file. Will upload a few more for your reading about the forest cover.
TinyUpload.com - best file hosting solution, with no limits, totaly free

 

[Samudra Manthan]

Yes they do. And they definitely know they need to get the classifications in place before the Kyoto Protocol kicks in. Else, its trouble for them. Hence, the need for them to work and get those kind of reports posted which you linked to the first time

That link is from the College of Forestry established in 1995.

University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga | Forestry College, Ponnampet

Undergraduate degree programme of this college had its humble beginning in 1985 at College of Agriculture under University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore. Later, College of Forestry was established in 1995 in the present campus of Ponnampet to cater to the forestry needs of this region. Post graduate degree programme in Forestry was started in 2001 to impart the higher education in Forestry. Since April 2013, College of Forestry, Ponnampet is functioning under the aegis of University of Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga after its bifurcation from University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore. In the year 2013 College of Forestry, Ponnampet celebrated its Silver Jubilee for completing 25 years of Forestry education. Till date, 26 batches of undergraduate student and 12 batches of Post graduate students have passed out of this college comprising of 13 IFS Officers, 15 ACF’s, 60 RFO’s to our credit. In addition, the alumni of this college are also serving in reputed institutes as researchers and academicians at national and international level.

So you are telling us that this College and University of Agriculture and Horticultural Sciences in Karnataka are under the thumb of the plantation owners and set up this college merely to circumvent the Kyoto Protocol which they envisioned coming 3 decades hence in the future?

While all these evil plantation owners and govt officials were colluding and hacking away at our forests, those poor Americans arrived to save the Indians from their own evil kind and bring them civilization? Of course TOI and India Today, those relentless crusaders of truth and harmony, have been valiantly fighting to bring to light both the nefarious activities of the Indian capitalists and plantation owners, and it was only in furtherance of this objective they published about this heroic couple from US?

There are evergreen forests, dense, moderately dense, natural and so on. These classification will come into effect soon. These are on the basis of % of trees per acre and nature of growth and so on. Mangroves and scrubs are not what I meant. The fight between the different groups is the type of drop in percentages.

Does it ever occur to you, that sitting on that kind of land and what using it for coffee plantation would have got them? Most people would buy and put it to use. They let a natural sanctuary happen there.

Am uploading one file. Will upload a few more for your reading about the forest cover.

I am very certain both the forest dept officers and plantation owners are very aware of the difference between dense, moderately dense, open forests and so on. This is not some new definition that Kyoto will bring and India is more than well prepared to embrace anything Kyoto will throw at it.

What do you mean sitting on that kind of land? Does your wild imagination cause you to think coffee planters are some kind of millionaires earning income in millions of dollars? Most just manage to break even and keep their head above water depending on the international coffee prices. For most it is subsistent living.

Am uploading one file. Will upload a few more for your reading about the forest cover.
TinyUpload.com - best file hosting solution, with no limits, totaly free

Oh right right, Marie Laval from AgroParisTech-ENGREF. How can we not look up to the white people who are so much smarter, honest, and authorities on every subject concerning India than Indians themselves. From imposed participation of the forest dwellers in forest conservation efforts to everything evil Indians are up to. They have their fingers on everything we are up too.

Are you also an advocate for Greenpeace? Work for them?

 

[surya kiran]

@Samudra Manthan

Like I said, tobacco industry sponsored a lot of studies. Did not mean zilch. You find it easy to disrepute studies and when pointed out that the study you referred is made by a lobby find it reputable? I have given you one link. I can give you multiple studies by environmental groups who do not have any coffee plantation owner or governmental interference.

And yes, I am aware of coffee plantation owners and the monies they make and economics of the same, including rubber plantations. My family owns them in Kerala. So I do not need a lesson from you on how much is made per acre and what different varieties have different yields and what is the gestation period. Thank you.

Name calling will not help. Like calling me a Greenpeace person or anything. Brown India is Toilet news according to you. White fellow is not acceptable. Except, coffee lobby saying how great they are doing Keep at it.

 

[Samudra Manthan]

@Samudra Manthan

Like I said, tobacco industry sponsored a lot of studies. Did not mean zilch. You find it easy to disrepute studies and when pointed out that the study you referred is made by a lobby find it reputable? I have given you one link. I can give you multiple studies by environmental groups who do not have any coffee plantation owner or governmental interference.

And yes, I am aware of coffee plantation owners and the monies they make and economics of the same, including rubber plantations. My family owns them in Kerala. So I do not need a lesson from you on how much is made per acre and what different varieties have different yields and what is the gestation period. Thank you.

Name calling will not help. Like calling me a Greenpeace person or anything. Brown India is Toilet news according to you. White fellow is not acceptable. Except, coffee lobby saying how great they are doing Keep at it.

Nah, I would rather trust the Karnataka forest dept officials and the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences to know their subject fields much better than a French or British poodles like the people at JNU or TOI is populated with.

Given how both the forest cover as well as elephant population has increased in India in the last couple of decades my trust in them is fortified. You can of course keep reading those articles from Frenchies and Swiss who have a commendable reputation of both tropical forest management as well as Elephant preservation in their own countries.

 

[surya kiran]

Nah, I would rather trust the Karnataka forest dept officials and the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences to know their subject fields much better than a French or British poodles like the people at JNU or TOI is populated with.

Given how both the forest cover as well as elephant population has increased in India in the last couple of decades my trust in them is fortified. You can of course keep reading those articles from Frenchies and Swiss who have a commendable reputation of both tropical forest management as well as Elephant preservation in their own countries.

Aah yes. Like the Parliamentary Committee member on Tobacco regulation once said, "there is no Indian survey to prove that tobacco consumption leads to cancer" If course, it was later found his constituency was the biggest bidi manufacturer .

So yeah please do believe the numbers of a report sponsored by the coffee lobby.