228 Abode ofGodv
Forests and hill economy
Forests occupy an important place in the life of the hill people
and that is why they frequently feature in the folklore also.
Living in the constant company of pine, deodar, rhodendron, oak
and birches at home and out in the forests, the villagers have
become accustomed to unrestricted use of the forest wealth.
Till the middle of the nineteenth century, this traditional
right remained unviolate but then about this time, appeared
Fredirick Wilson who offered some royalty to the Maharaja
and settled at Harsil in Uttarkashi district. As far back as-
I860 he started exploitation of rich deodar forests and deve-
loped techniques of transporting it through river Bhagirathi.
Increasing income from the forests whetted the appetite of the
royal government and moved it to enact laws for the increased
exploitation of forests through contractors and forest department,
These laws were naturally resented by the locals and most of the
agitations in Garhwal centred round forest and land. It needs to
be stressed and well understood by all that the local people have
to do something with the forests, As such, there is need for
reappraisal of our forest policy, particularly in view of popular
public resentment and increasing denudation of forests due to-
excess in cutting and pilferage.
In this search for fresh look at the forests and in order to
make them basis for a viable economy, it is necessary to protect
forests from the contractors' exploitation. A sense ,of responsi-
bility has to be inculcated in the minds of the people for the
•protection of forests. The menace of deforestation lias to be
combated seriously and effectively by educating the people
besides meeting severe punishment to the defaulters. Side by
side afforestation schemes have also to be taken in hand so that
phased plantation alongwith systematic cutting plan is properly
executed.
Animal husbandry
For supplementing food resources, providing raw material to
woollen industry and increasing cash income raising of livestock
comes next only to agriculture. Whereas the vast pastures-
support large flocks in summer, the withering autumn and the
snow blanketed winter deal, as it were, the death blow to most