Sal (Shorea robusta) forests of India: Importance, threats and future potential

Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.f.) is the most abundant tree species, spreading across 10 Mha, covering 10.62% share in India. The local population has been profoundly dependent on sal forests for their livelihood. Besides acting as a wild animal’s habitat and controlling soil erosion, sal forests have the largest share in carbon sequestration in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, ranging from 30 to 170 Mg Carbon/ha. Due to excessive population pressure, dense sal forests are being converted into thin and dispersed forest; hence, it is essential to critically review the lapses in the existing system and take bold steps to address them. Government-community collaborative efforts for conservation, rejuvenation, mass-scale afforestation, and establishing non-timber sal-based cottage industries can help maintain a healthy forest cover and sustainably support livelihood.