Forest Department rebuts glyphosate allegations in Thachi Range, says field verification found no evidence
Forest Department rebuts glyphosate allegations in Thachi Range, says field verification found no evidence
Mandi, August 19
Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has rebutted allegations of extensive forest damage and use of glyphosate for clearing vegetation for pea cultivation in the Thachi Range of Nachan Forest Division in Mandi district, saying that field verification did not corroborate the claims.
The clarification was issued following a report published by Himachal Scape regarding alleged cultivation of peas on forest land in the Daharghat Beat of Thachi Range and claims that vegetation had been cleared and burnt with the use of herbicides, including glyphosate.
According to the Forest Department, staff of the Gadagusaini and Dahar Blocks of Thachi Range detected pea cultivation during regular group patrolling in the Daharghat Beat. The patrolling team found pea crops in two to three small patches, each measuring less than one hectare, and immediately destroyed the crops.
The department said that during field verification, no spot indicating the spraying or use of glyphosate or any other weedicide was found. It also said there was no evidence of extensive damage to forest vegetation attributable to chemical spraying.
The Forest Department maintained that the area continues to remain under regular patrolling and surveillance to prevent unauthorised activities.
The department’s response comes after local activist Guman Singh had alleged that natural vegetation on forest land was being cleared and burned for pea cultivation through the use of herbicides. He had also alleged that although Forest Department officials had taken action against the pea crop, effective action had not been taken to prevent the alleged use of glyphosate.
At the time of publication, the claims had not been independently verified.
Also Read Glyphosate allegations put Thachi Forests in Mandi div under lens
The Forest Department has now made it clear that the allegations regarding glyphosate spraying and extensive forest damage could not be corroborated during its field verification.
The department has, however, invited anyone possessing specific and verifiable evidence regarding the alleged use of herbicides or other unauthorised activities to bring it to the notice of the Forest Department so that the matter can be independently verified and appropriate action taken.
The clarification also establishes that the Forest Department’s field staff did take action against the unauthorised pea cultivation detected during patrolling. Staff in uniform were seen taking action against the illegal cultivation in the forest area.
The department stressed that information concerning field activities should be based on verified facts and supporting evidence, particularly when allegations involve the use of chemicals and alleged damage to forest ecosystems.
The issue had also raised wider environmental concerns because earthworms and other soil organisms play an important role in soil structure, nutrient cycling and water infiltration. Earlier reference was made to a 2015 study published in Scientific Reports that examined the effects of glyphosate-based herbicides on earthworms under controlled greenhouse conditions. However, the study was conducted in Austria and does not establish the impact of glyphosate spraying in Thachi or anywhere else in Himachal Pradesh.
With the Forest Department now stating that no evidence of glyphosate use was found during field verification, any further assessment of the allegations would require specific evidence identifying the location, chemical used, manner of application and circumstances in which the alleged spraying took place.
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