Deforestation Around Urban Centres in India

Abstract

Whereas it used to be supposed rather widely that fuel-wood was used mainly in rural areas, large-scale migration of rural people to urban areas, and the consequent mushrooming growth of squatter settlements in urban areas (cf. Fig. 4), have increased the consumption of fuel-wood in those areas. The shortage of fuel-wood coupled with the increase in demand, has caused steep rises in the price of fuel-wood in urban areas. Although a large number of studies on deforestation have appeared, the actual forces behind deforestation have been very poorly understood in most of the developing countries (Hadley & Lanly, 1983), while information of where fuel-wood is actually consumed is not widely available. If deforestation is really to be arrested, comprehensive studies on the demand and supply of fuel-wood will have to be generated and concomitant action ensured.