Is there any possibility to save the Sal-borer infested forests of Chhattisgarh, India?

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

The forest of Uttaranchal, a newly formed state of India, is under attack of Sal-borer and causing great damage. Yesterday when I received e-mail from Ms. Resina Hansda, a forest researcher, having this shocking news, I motivated to write a detailed article explaining the cause of problem and to discuss possible steps that can be taken to protect these valuable forests. In the year 1998, the Sal-borer caused nuisance in dense forests of Madhya Pradesh. And as result, thousands infested trees were cut down in name of stopping further spread of this trouble. Sal is an important tree for us. Before explaining the problem, I am giving details regarding Sal and its importance in Chhattisgarh.

According to reference literatures, Sal (Shorea robusta, family Diptero carpaceae) is a tree having height up to 30 meters. Bark black, furrowed. Young branches, petioles and inflorescence pubescent. Leaves alternate, 8-17.5x5-12.5 cm, ovate or ovate-oblong, apex sub-acuminate, base cordate or round, coriaceous above, pale beneath. Flowers cream coloured in axillary panicles, Fruit ovoid, up to 1.2 cm long crowned with up to 1.2 cm long tapering style remnant. Fruit covered by the bases of accrescent sepals, of which 3 sepals are usually longer (wings). Seeds 7-10 mm long, ovoid, acute. The Sal wood is of high timber value. An oleoresin called Sal dammar (Ral, Guggal, Laldhuna), obtained on tapping the trunk, is used in paints, varnishes and as an incense. It also finds use as plastering medium for walls and roofs and as cementing material for plywood and asbestos sheets. It possess valuable medicinal properties also. Sal leaves are reported to be used for bidi-making and for preparing platters and cup like articles for serving food. Saldammar on distillation gives 'Chua Oil', that is employed in perfumery and for flavouring chewing and smoking tobacco. Sal butter, extracted from seeds, is used as illuminant and for cooking. The flora of Madhya Pradesh (Vol-I) published by Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, India describes in details about Tropical moist mixed deciduous forests, moist peninsular Sal forests, Terminalia alata forests, secondary moist mixed deciduous forests and moist Sal savannah. The Sal forests of Chhattisgarh are well known around the world. Locally this tree is known as Sarai and Sargi. In Chhattisgarh there are many villages and places having the name based on this herb like Saraipali. In definite cycle, these forests come under attack of insect name as Sal-borer (Hoplocerambyx spinicornis). This insect destroys the whole tree. During the years of its infestation, it destroys thousands trees. The forest officials divide the infested trees in different categories and the dead trees are cut down. This mass felling cause great harm to natural ecosystem. We have also observed that in the name of infested trees many unaffected trees are also cut as during cutting no-body from non-governmental organizations and other organizations are allowed in the site. When in the year 1997-98, the Sal-borer attacked the Sal forests of Madhya Pradesh as eco-journalist and herb expert, I got the opportunity to visit the infested areas of Mandla region and to interact with the forest officers as well as the natives living with these insects since generations. The natives were unhappy by the interference of forest officials in Sal-borer incidence. I always write in my article that the human beings have no right to disturb the Mother Nature's arrangements. The Sal-borer and Sal tree both are from Mother Nature's side and in case of any imbalance, Mother Nature is capable to maintain the equilibrium. As Sal is valuable timber tree, this high demand has made common forest persons greedy and in the name of some diseases and insects, they simply want to cut more and more trees. When I interacted with the natives of Mandla region, after long discussion they informed me that when the natural infestation of exotic weed Lantana camara (locally known as Gotiphool) increases, the infestation of Sal borer also increase. Lantana is well known forest weed and from its introduction in the region, the experts are warning about its rapid spread in Indian conditions, but unfortunately nothing has been done to stop its spread in natural forests. During my visit, the natives showed me another valuable insect Alaus sordidus having the capacity to manage these borer-insects. This insect eats the Sal-borer. This is nature's tool to keep control over Sal-borer population. When I found the presence of Lantana, Sal-borer and Alaus sordidus, in natural forests, a thought came into my mind that there must be some relationship among them.

After coming back when I conducted small experiment using Lantana, Sal-borer and friend insect, I got the evidences of relationship. This experiment gave the birth of an hypothesis that the increasing infestation of Lantana causes harmful effect on natural population of Friend insect (in laboratory all extracts and leachates showed harmful effects on Friend insect) and as the population of Friend insect decreases in nature the population and infestation of Sal-borer increases and it results in outbreak of this trouble. Due to lack of financial assistance, I do not extend this study and after publishing a small research note giving this hypothesis I stopped the work, expecting that any forest entomologist would take interest in this important aspect. Unfortunately, I have not seen or heard about any such study. In the above mentioned experiments, when I applied all extracts and leachates of Lantana on Sal-borer, it produced no significant effect on them. I personally feel that there is a need to search new friendly insects and to encourage it by managing trouble causing factors for these insects like increasing infestation of Lantana as weed. Through this article, I would like to request the forest officials of Uttaranchal state where the Sal forests are under heavy attack of Sal-borer to monitor the natural population of friendly insects and also try to search the factor responsible for decrease in its number that has resulted in increased population of Sal-borer. I am not in favour of introducing and releasing the new force of these insects, multiplied in captivity, because this introduction is against the nature and it may result in even big disaster. Although the natives and traditional healers of Sal forest areas are not well educated but they can simply guide the experts in search of friendly insects. I have experienced it in Mandla region. The traditional healers and natives of this region suggested me the unique use of their traditional drums to manage this borer. They disclosed the information that if the drums are played near the borer-infested tree having the borer inside, the specific frequency coming from drums will either kill the borers or force them to leaves the trees. Although this valuable suggestion look like impractical solution but the confidence of these real scientists motivated me to see its practical use. We visited to infested trees with one drum and played it one hour. We got no positive result. We decided to increase the number.

Finally we got success with seven drums played for four long hours. When I discussed this unique method to my other expert friends, they suggested that in place of drum, specific electronic device can be developed to produce desirable frequency effectively in less time. In form of concept paper, when I presented this traditional method for the first time, they raised many questions related to practical uses. One of these questions was, how it is possible to approach each and every tree in big forests? For demarcation and identification of infested trees to be cut, they are ready to visit all parts of forests but not for treatment? This is really surprising. I replied to all the questions and most of the experts got convinced with me but the device has yet not been developed. Through this article, I would like to request the forest researchers and experts, specially the entomologists to share their views on this aspect and also if they feel that this traditional method is feasible, please start work on it at your earliest so that these mass felling can be stopped. I am motivating the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh specialized in use of medicinal insects to try this nuisance causing insect as medicine so that in years of heavy infestation it can be used for economic returns. As mentioned earlier, the dead Sal trees are cut down, when I asked one officer what will happen if we will left it as such in forest in hands of mother nature ? He simply replied that you do not know it is valuable timber tree. The quick cut down will give returns to the governmental and in forest; it will take long year for natural decay. The cuttings of trees in thousands, are you aware that what impact it will pose on natural bio-diversity and also on associated species and on the micro-organisms dependent on dieing trees? He gave no reply. The local newspapers are highlighting one more shocking news that in Chhattisgarh, again the officers have identified some Sal trees having unknown problem and they are waiting for new leaves and if the young leaves will not come, they are planning to cut down these trees. I do not want to blame any one but wish to stop this mass cutting in the name of problems. I am planning to visit this area to learn from the natives and to gather new traditional knowledge. I am confident that the positive approach and systematic research can save these valuable forests effectively.

Thank you very much for reading the article.