History of Scientific Management of the Forests of Manipur

Manipur has a rich history of written chronicles which record in detail the different aspects of life prevailing during the time of different kings that ruled the state. Such detailed royal chronicles or “puyas” date back to the time of King Pakhangba who ruled during 33 AD. Forest and Wildlife have always been recognized as an important resource however, there is no mention of any form of management of forests in any of the puyas. The only form of conservation of forest in prehistoric and early part of recorded history was the practice of worshipping local deities known as “Umang lais” which formed important aspect of the religious customary practice. Since the Ukmang lais, as the name itself suggest, reside in a forest it was sacrosanct to protect the forest which stand in the name of the god residing therein. Similar practices are also seen in other parts of India and such forests are known as “sacred groves”. The custom of worshipping Umang lai is still prevalent till today and in fact the festival of “Lai Haraobas” are the “Pleasing” of gods of such Umang lais/forest deities. However the forest where they reside have been depleting over the years and today most of the Umang lais are bereft of any forests.

Scientific management of forest can be attributed only after the arrival of the British in 1891. Under the British, many important steps for the proper management of forest resources were taken – Framing of the Forest Policy, Framing of Game Rules, Adoption of the Indian Forest Act, Constitution of Reserve Forests etc. In the early part of the British Rule, there was neither a separate Forest Department nor any separate Forest Officer. Forestry matters were looked after by the President of the Manipur State Darbar ( or the Chotu Saheb as he is popularly referred to. The Boro Saheb being the Political Agent). The Darbar was basically the King in Council, primarily with the task of assisting the King in Administration. The Maharaja used to be the de facto President of the Darbar till 1916, however after 1916, an European was made the President. This practice continued till 1931 when the Forest Department with a separate Forest Member (similar to today’s Ministers) was set up for the first time under the Darbar. Sh Laimayum Ibungohal Singh became the first Forest Member in 1931 and continued in the position till 1944. He was succeeded by A Ibotomcha Singh (1944-46), and Sh W Chaoba Singh (1946-47).

Even though forestry matters were recognized as an important part of the Darbar’s Agenda, primarily because it was the second highest revenue grosser after agriculture, there was no scientific data, strategy, management plans etc through which forest resource could be managed and not just exploited. The first report on the Forests of Manipur was that of Mr W.A Cosgrave, the Vice President of the State Darbar who made a made brief report in 1908. Cosgrave’s report was on the conservation of the pine clad forests near Sugnu and was accepted by the then Maharaja. The First “specialist” forest officer who was assigned the service of recommending methods for the management of forests in Manipur was Mr. Rowbotham who was assigned the task in 1910. However, it was Mr AJW Milroy who submitted a detailed report of the entire state in 1913. Unfortunately, the recommendations of Mr Milroy could not be implemented due to the outbreak of the First World War. Matters relating to forests either remain dormant or neglected for a long time till it was revived again in 1931 when the Forest Department was formed, a separate Forest Member was elected, a resolution (Darbar Resolution 10A) was passed by the State Darbar in 1932, which virtually became the Forest Policy of the State, and a search for a “subject matter specialist” forest officer started. The search for a forest officer ended when Sh DC Kaith, a graduate from Edinburg University and serving in Himachal as an Extra Assistant Conservator of Forests, was taken on deputation to study, report and recommend methods for the management of Forests in Manipur. Sh Kaith took a little over a year to extensively tour the forests, study them and come out with his report and recommendations in September 1933. His study cost Rs. 4574. The report of S Kaith was so thorough and comprehensive that it became the foundation of scientific management of Forests in Manipur and in fact the history of Manipur’s Forests can be grouped as Pre Kaith and Post Kaith. Most of the recommendations of Sh Kaith were accepted and there was a marked change in the management of the forests in Manipur. Sh Kaith was followed by Sh Hari Singh (1935-36), Sh Padmanabh (1936-1940), Sh KV Reddy (1940-42). In 1942, Sh R.K Bijoy Chandra Singh became the first local forest officer. Sh Bijoychandra worked till 1969 as the Chief Forest Officer.

Till 1966 the whole state was treated as a single forest Division with the Chief Forest Officer as the Head of Department. In 1966 the department was reorganized by splitting the area into 2 divisions but the HoD was the CFO. In 1976 the department was again re-organized with the creation of more divisions and the putting of all divisions under one Circle under the charge of a Conservator of Forests, who was the HoD. In 1978 the single circle was split into 2 with a CF in charge of a circle and a Dy Chief Conservator of Forests as the HoD. The post of Dy CCF was later on upgraded to CCF in 1979. In 1988, the post of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests or PCCF was created and Sh B.S.K Sharma became the first PCCF.