The truth behind the Rainforest Conservation Movement of Assam

Before 1990, people in Assam – even the enlightened and the elite were oblivious about the existence of rainforests in Assam. The term didn’t figure out in any official discourse, popular Assamese literature or scholarly essays about Assam’s forests which were used for academic purpose in colleges and universities. Nor did it figure in any pamphlets or brochures brought out by State agencies like the Tourism and the Forest Department. Till then we were under the impression that rainforests in India existed only in the Andaman’s, Western Ghats and Silent Valley in Kerala. The term “RAINFOREST” gained its prominence in Assam only after Nature’s Beckon, the premier environmental activist group of Assam, reported its existence in Upper Assam in the early nineties.

THE REASONS FOR OUR DWINDLING RAINFORESTS

Before the British annexation, the entire east or Upper Assam was an extensive contiguous rainforest area. The British initiated the annihilation of rainforests in Assam when they cleared millions of hectares of pristine forests to set up tea gardens. The intensity of their annihilation gained momentum when the British discovered coal and oil in the heart of these rainforests. The sad part of this tragic saga of destruction was when the exploitation scaled newer heights post-independence. Empowered with the connivance of corrupt politicians and forest officials, hundreds of sawmills, plywood industries and veneer units mushroomed in Upper Assam. And all unscrupulous elements ganged up to eliminate the remaining vestiges of this unparalleled natural glory.

EVERYONE BENEFITTED BY DESTROYING OUR RAINFORESTS

Naturally, the question that arises is why the so-called educated aristocracy and the prominent individuals of those times were silent onlookers to these unabated exploitations? Why didn’t anyone protest or raise their voices against such rampant destruction of nature? The answer is straightforward. These so-called influential and accomplished individuals, in connivance with the unscrupulous businessmen of those times, were reaping the dividends from the tea gardens, sawmills, plywood industries, oil and coal exploration. They were the direct or indirect shareholders of these rampant exploitations. Individuals and institutions of those times who lived off hands from these units and collaborators were also equally to blame. The undeniable fact is that everyone benefitted by destroying our rainforests.

RAINFORESTS SURVEY OF ASSAM

For three long years from 1989 to 1992, Nature’s Beckon surveyed the forests of Upper Assam. Those days, we didn’t have access to modern gadgetry like cell phones, GPS or the internet. Thus, we surveyed the entire area on foot, which helped us arrive at the exact status and individual characteristics of the surviving patches of forests. We found that tea gardens, village settlements, deforestation, oil and coal exploration had irreversibly destroyed the previously contiguous rainforests. Most of the surviving patches existed in isolation from each other, therefore slowly and progressively losing the extraordinary characteristics that define a rainforest. But a fresh glimmer of optimism emerged from the exercise of ours, and we were elated.

WHAT WAS THE GLIMMER OF HOPE

Our survey, investigations and explorations revealed a contiguous stretch of 500 Sq. Km of rainforests in Joypur, Upper Dehing and Dirok, spread over the two districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh. Though separated by different administrative divisions, these three reserved forests were, in reality, one undivided and continuous stretch of rainforest. The species diversity of this entire stretch was so overwhelming that we immediately realized that we had to preserve this pristine rainforest from the clutches of the exploiters. These three reserved forests were vulnerable to further exploitation and if left unprotected would perish in no time. And that would be possible only if the Government upgrades these reserved forests as a Wildlife Sanctuary.

WHY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

One needs to understand here that Reserved Forests enjoy no legal protection. On the other hand, the Forest authorities can extract natural resources like oil, coal, timber and sand from these reserved forests. Thus, we petitioned the Government to upgrade the status of these three reserved forests to a Wildlife Sanctuary, we suggested the name ‘Joydehing Wildlife Sanctuary”.

THE RAINFOREST MOVEMENT

As specified earlier, since people in Assam were oblivious of the existence and attributes of rainforests, we encountered the biggest challenge in persuading them of the need for its conservation. So we launched the rainforest conservation movement in 1994, a mass movement to popularize the concept of rainforest among the masses and subsequently facilitate the protection of the rainforests. Armed with slide projectors, we showed people from all walks of life including academicians, students and teachers of schools, colleges and universities, pictures of the biodiversity of rainforests. For years, we continued cultivating awareness and understanding amongst the masses about the significance of this rainforest patch using mass communication tools like street performances, photo exhibitions, radio programs, forest camps and workshops. As time passed, our movement picked up momentum. We started writing articles on the relevance and biodiversity of rainforests in all leading newspapers, periodicals and magazines in Assam. Simultaneously, leading media houses from the country and abroad began to feature contents regarding our movement. People like the Late Mrinal Kanti Das, the cinematographer par excellence produced a documentary on rainforests for Doordarshan. Moreover, he started work on a feature film on the rainforest movement, but unfortunately, he passed away in a tragic accident before completing the film.

All India Radio, Dibrugarh aired regular programs on our movement to popularize the relevance of rainforests and its conservation. The best part of this entire movement was the unstinted support of the ethnic communities in the fringe villages surrounding the proposed WLS. Nothing can be more heartening than the fact that these villagers continue to protect this patch of the rainforest till date, even though the then Government notified only 111.19 sq.km out of the proposed 500 sq.km as WLS. We printed numerous leaflets, brochures, posters and stickers in Assamese to spread awareness among the general masses. This movement lasted for ten long years, where thousands of students participated in our conservation orientation camps. The students also participated in protest marches and rallies across the state to demand protection of the rainforests. Our efforts led to the International Rainforest Festival in 2001. Resource persons, wildlife scientists and biologists from all across the world participated in the festival. The then Chief Minister also graced the occasion and lent moral support to our movement.

DOCUMENTING THE BIO-DIVERSITY OF RAINFOREST

Parallel to our movement, we also engaged in documenting the biodiversity of the rainforest and published books on the mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies, fishes, insects and the botanical wonders of the place. Quite a few young researchers came forward to augment our documentations.

FORCES AGAINST THE RAINFOREST MOVEMENT

It was but natural that we faced a lot of opposition from the coal, timber and oil mafia during our movement. Our demand for a Wildlife sanctuary disturbed the status quo in the area where the illegal coal, oil and timber mafia had a free reign. Armed with immense ill-gotten wealth from destroying our forests in connivance with a few corrupt officials and political patronage, they began to oppose our efforts to save this pristine bio-diversity. They resorted to threats and bribery and then a vilification campaign to dissuade us from our resolve. To lend credibility to their opposition, they bought the services of a few pseudo conservationists as well. And one of them was a corrupt bureaucrat Mr. Choudhury, who with the blessings of politicians and the coal mafia took the lead in opposing us. Misusing his Government position, he resorted to falsehood and slander to discredit our movement. Enriched with ill-gotten wealth from the coal mafia, he opened a Rhino Foundation to establish his conservation credentials. This foundation was, in reality, a front to launder his corrupt earnings. Moreover, he has registered the foundation outside Assam to hide his accounting frauds. Incidentally, though retired from Government service, he is still an active member of the coal mafia and continues to oppose all conservation works in the rainforest.

I have detailed the entire chronology of events of the decade long struggle in a book titled ‘Namchangor Ontexpuri’. This book, penned in Assamese, is the first such book on rainforests in Assam. The book details the characteristics of the rainforest, its rich bio-diversity and the importance of preserving it. The book also dwells on those individuals who supported and participated in the movement and those who opposed it. Owing to our relentless pressure, the then Government notified an area of only 111.19 sq. km as Wildlife Sanctuary in 2004. Moreover, they changed the name from Joydehing to Dehing Patkai. However, we are committed to ensure protection for the entire stretch of 500 sq. km of the rainforest and stand steadfast in our resolve.

OUR PROPOSED WILDLFIE SANCTUARY TURNED INTO REALITY

No one can deny the fact that the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary has seen the light of day because of the rainforest conservation movement led by Nature’s Beckon and is undoubtedly a unique conservation success story. This 500 sq km of pristine rainforest would have perished long back if not for our decade long struggle.

RELENTLESS PRESSURE TO DESTROY OUR RAINFORESTS

The forces inimical to the rainforest led by Mr. Choudhury mentioned above are active even today. He has of late been trying to establish his conservation credentials by boasting that he was instrumental in declaring the area as an Elephant Reserve. And some compromised media people are actively publishing that narrative. Well, he was right. He did scuttle our movement for Wildlife Sanctuary and instead opted for Elephant Reserve. But as mentioned earlier, elephant reserves do not enjoy legal sanctity similar to a Wildlife Sanctuary. In 2003 this individual went public with his opposition to the movement. He had stated that we were lying, that Dehing Patkai is not a rainforest and that Hoolock Gibbon was not an endangered species. He is the same person who initiated crude oil exploration inside Dehing Patkai by welcoming Premier Oil. It was in 2004 that the present day Dehing Patkai WLS came into existence. For sixteen long years, he kept quiet. And, now in the year 2020 when we are petitioning the Government to declare the entire 500 sq. km as Wildlife Sanctuary, he has suddenly become hyperactive. By publishing his false narrative that Elephant Reserves are secure places, he has again started to oppose our moves. He is resorting to a slander campaign again to try to derail our movement.

ROLE OF ETHICAL JOURNALISTS IN THE RAINFOREST MOVEMENT

During our movement, the media played a very crucial role. Many honest and ethical journalists took up the pen to disseminate information about the importance of rainforest and its conservation. Those days there was only one television channel, and this also played a very positive role in the movement. Despite grave provocations and lure of money, these journalists were steadfast in their commitment to ethical journalism. There were, of course, a minuscule few who sold their soul to Mr. Choudhury and gang and they continue to indulge him even today.

MISINFORMATION REGARDING DEHING PATKAI

A few unscrupulous elements recently started a massive misinformation campaign alleging coal mining activity inside Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. These politically motivated forces tried to divert the young impressionable minds of the upcoming generation of nature lovers by resorting to false propaganda. We have been doing the rounds of Dehing Patkai WLS practically every week for the last thirty years. We know every inch of the place and are in close touch with the local communities there. And a few days later, a massive campaign to save Dehing Patkai began to trend on social media. Some media houses from outside the state also started writing on the issue. We were both surprised and overwhelmed at the intensity of the campaign. We were surprised because the law debars anyone to mine inside a Wildlife Sanctuary. Moreover, the proposed mining site was at Saleki, which is a colliery and was very far from even the proposed 500 sq. km area. But at the same time, we were overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and concern for Dehing Patkai, which is indeed a positive indicator for future conservation activities.

Concerned nature lovers from all over the state began to contact us, wanting to know about the real situation in the ground. So we brought out a video to address these concerns where we categorically stated the facts. The National Board for Wildlife has granted Stage I approval to Coal India for mining in Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest which is a separate entity and not a part of Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. In fact, the Government has no proposal to allow mining in the entire 500 sq. km of our proposed Wildlife sanctuary. What followed this video was beyond imagination. People began to smear us with unparliamentary language, alleging that we were not stating the truth. When we started enquiring about the origin of this misinformation campaign, we stumbled upon the same old faces. The same faces who always opposed our movement have suddenly become the saviors of rainforests. When we revealed the facts, these neo conservationists shifted the campaign from Dehing Patkai Wildlife sanctuary to Elephant Reserve stating that Saleki is part of the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve.

MISCONCEPTION REGARDING ELEPHANT RESERVE

As stated above, in the contexts of wildlife protection and conservation in India, Elephant Reserves have no legal sanctity. This entire exercise of declaring an Elephant Reserve instead of a Wildlife Sanctuary was to ensure that all non-forestry activities can go on unhindered. This exercise was implemented in 2003 to negate our movement for Wildlife Sanctuary and to fool the people of Assam into believing that then Government was serious about the protection of our natural resources. Whereas, in reality, the Government has due rights to allow coal mining to take place inside an Elephant Reserve.  And this fact is evident in the approval granted to Coal India to mine this area for coal.

IS SALEKI A PART OF DEHING PATKAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The Saleki colliery is located at an aerial distance of more than 9 km away from Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. This area lost all the characteristics of a rainforest a hundred years back. What remains here are tea gardens, devoid of any canopy cover.

WHY THE MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN

The acceptance of NBWL (National Board for Wildlife) in allowing Stage 1 clearance for Coal Mining in Saleki PRF was a golden opportunity for the illegal coal and timber mafia to ensure that their hegemony remains intact. By blatantly propagating the myth, they were playing with the psyche of the people of Assam by creating an impression that Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is on the verge of destruction. They tried to portray that the State and the Central Government in association with Coal India would destroy Dehing Patkai. Once this notion gains in momentum, the mafia would slowly sneak into the rainforest and complete their unfinished tasks. But, they were so complacent that they didn’t consider the resolve of Nature’s Beckon to protect our forests with all our might. And, when we came to the forefront, they resorted to the same old baseless and unsubstantiated allegation against us. In doing so, they underestimated our abilities and our strengths. More importantly, they insulted the genuine efforts and intelligence of the local people of the area.

This entire episode of flagrant lies also exposes the so-called flag-bearers of the conservation movement of Assam. These experts are always at the forefront to corner the gains of international funding. They double up as advisors to the Government and attend seminars and indulge in so-called scientific research. These media savvy pseudo conservationists frequently harp forth on environment issues on television screens. But their deafening silence on this issue was intriguing. Knowing very well the implications of what was happening, they preferred silence rather than sharing their views with the Government or the people. A few of them openly indulged in the false propaganda. Well to them, the people of Assam are watching their every move.

NATURE’S BECKON’S RESOLVE

 The protection of the remaining patch of our pristine rainforests and joining hands for a sustainable conservation master plan is the need of the hour. We will never allow Dehing Patkai to be a hotbed for coal, oil or timber mining.  Nature’s Beckon have intensified its move to ensure the complete protection of the entire 500sqkm of rainforests with a fresh appeal to Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, the honorable Chief Minister of Assam to include the entire 500sqkm of verdant rainforest in the jurisdiction of Dehing Patkai WLS at earliest. We urge everyone to make it a collective effort, come forward and extend their support to #Complete_DehingPatkai_WLS_500sqkm through any social media platform viz, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Anyone who is interested in taking part in this new phase of rainforest conservation movement can opt to show their support to complete the Dehing Patkai WLS through any other medium as per their wish and convenience.

Let us avail this opportunity to appeal to our Chief Minister Sri Sarbananda Sonowal the following:

“A large contiguous patch of rainforests which was in our earlier proposal for the protection of the rainforests of Upper Assam was left out of the Dehing Patkai WLS to benefit the coal and timber mafias. Please take necessary steps to include this remaining patch of rainforest under the Dehing Patkai WLS to ensure its future protection.”

OUR APPEAL

We humbly request all nature-loving people of Assam including Students, Teachers, Artists, Poets, Musicians, Intellectuals, Journalists, Bureaucrats, Politicians, NGOs and people from all walks of life to come forward and participate in our fight for the conservation of our forests. We pledge to continue with our movement until the entire patch of rainforests is upgraded to the status of a Wildlife Sanctuary.

#Complete_DehingPatkai_WLS_500sqkm