"It was a wonderful experience interacting with you and appreciate the way you have planned and executed the whole publication process within the agreed timelines.”
Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh Pal
The book Forests and Trees of Karnataka - A Journey in Time through Buchanan's Eyes attempts at providing a pen picture of the forests and trees of Karnataka as seen by Dr. Francis Buchanan during his journey undertaken in 1800 and 1801. As Buchanan’s narrations contained in his three-volume journal ‘A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar (1807)’ cover a wide range of subjects, his observations specifically on trees and other plants have been culled out with a view to visualizing the forest scenario of Karnataka more than 200 years ago. The book also highlights the important role trees were assigned in the distant past to complement agricultural operations and industrial activities leading to economic development and general welfare. Buchanan in his writings had underscored the ingenious ways through which the farmer, with the help of trees and other plants, conserved water, increased soil organic content and improved soil fertility. In fact there was an intrinsic relationship between water, agricultural crops, and the sylvan surrounding. Among the messages which Buchanan’s writings convey, the most pertinent one for the present times is perhaps that of the ancient wisdom of the farmer that the surest way to keep the earth cool is to keep it green.
DIPAK SARMAH, IFS (Retd.)
Shri Dipak Sarmah, a retired Indian Forest Service (1977) officer of the Karnataka cadre, started his career in the Western Ghats, serving in the region for more than a decade. He also served in the Government of India as Deputy Adviser, Planning Commission and as Deputy Inspector General of Forests, Forest Policy, MoEF (1991-1995). Later he served in a number of positions in the Government of Karnataka including Secretary (Forest), PCCF (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden, superannuating in December 2013 as PCCF (Head of Forest Force). Post retirement, Shri Sarmah has devoted himself to writing on various aspects of forestry and forests of Karnataka. He is the author of a number of books, namely, ‘Status of Forests of Karnataka’, ‘Forestry in Karnataka - A Journey of 150 Years’, ‘Forests of Karnataka – A Panoramic View’, ‘Wildlife Management in Karnataka – A Forester’s Perspective’, ‘Forestry in India during British Era – Karnataka Case-study’, ‘Agroforestry in Karnataka – A Golden Opportunity for Green Growth’, and ‘Dry Deciduous Forests of Karnataka – Adding Years to Their Life, and to Ours”. In 2011, Shri Dipak Sarmah was nominated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to the Monitoring Committee to supervise mining operations and sale of iron ore in Karnataka. He continues to serve as the Chairman of the Committee till date. He is currently the President of the ‘Institution of Agroforestry Farmers and Technologists ® (IAFT)’, Bengaluru, a non-government forum to promote agroforestry.
