The forests [District Census Handbook, Nasik District, 1961] in Nasik district cover an area of 3,446.28 km² (1,330.61 sq. miles) of which 3,338 .85 km² (1,289.13 sq. miles) are incharge of Forest Department whereas 107.43 (41.48 sq. miles) are incharge of Revenue Department. The forest area is 22. 13 per cent of the total geographical area of the district as against the average of 17.56 per cent for the State.

Composition: The forest area under the control of the Forest Department, consists of the reserved forests covering 2,920.07 km² (1,127.44 sq. miles), the protected forests covering 245.45 km² (94.77 sq. miles) and unclassed forests, 173.32 km² (66.92 sq. miles). The forests in the district are one of the important forests of the State. Of the total forest area in the district 928. 88 km² (358.64 sq. miles) situated below the ghat region are the main source of the annual production of timber and fuelwood in the district. The remainder of the forests situated above the ghat tract cover three distinct ranges of hills running in an easterly direction. These three ranges of hills form the intensively cultivated and populous basins of the Girna and the Godavari rivers. Hardly 307.45 km² (118.71 sq. miles) of these forests are potentially productive thus leaving aside a greater chunk of poorly stocked or barren forest area, a sad remainder of the destructive propensities of the man and the animal. Uncontrolled grazing and wanton cutting have reduced these forests to few insignificant pockets of growth along terraces and sheltered belts.

The distribution of the forests is neither ideal nor suited to the needs of the local population. Eastern part of the  district  which is thickly popu­lated is practically devoid of any forest cover.

Climate appears to be the effective factor responsible for broad differen­tiation of forests occurring in the district and the variation also occurs due to changes in soil conditions and biotic factors. The forests of Nasik district are broadly of three types according to three different zones formed by variation in rainfall and topography.

The western-most part of the district lying along the windward side of the western ghats constitute Peint, Harsul, Barhe and Surgana ranges. These areas are generally known as " Below Ghat Areas". The annual rainfall, spread over a period of four months from middle of June to middle of October varies between 2,032 and 2,667 mm. (80" and 105"). The entire area is occupied by Deccan basalt flows, several hundred metres in thickness. The rocks generally consist of forroaugite, labrodorite, felspar and iron-ore. Soil is deep loamy particularly on lower hill slopes. The upper hill slopes have at places very thin soil spread and at a number of places the parent rock is exposed. The forests of this tract, according to Champion's classification fall under " Group 3-A-Southern Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests". Teak is by far the main specie. Other closely associated species are Sadada or Ain, Hed, Kalam, Sisum, Khair, Tiwas, Bibla and Dhavda in varying proportions. Bamboos are also common except in eastern part of the zone. Two main varieties of bamboos are found, which are locally known as Manvel and Kashti.

The central  zone which spreads over the easier eastern slopes of Sahyadri is generally very rugged and uneven. The forests in this tract are of dry deciduous type with much poorer quality than that of the forests of western zone. In these forests as well, teak is the main specie, but its quality can hardly stand in comparison with the teak found in western zone. Other common associates of teak in this tract are Dhavda, Sadada, Kakad, Salai, Modal, etc. These forests are comparatively open with large blanks not very uncommon. On account of exposed portion of the rocks, these forests lack continuity and appear to have been scattered all over in small bits.

The eastern zone bears nothing but a scrubby growth and the major portion of the so-called reserved forest is barren and devoid of any growth. The vegetation is generally found along the terraces and sheltered belts which have escaped the destructive propensities of the local inhabitants. Salai and Dhavda are the main species found in this tract which have only a fuel value. In the northern part of Malegaon taluka, Anjan trees are seen growing in fairly large proportion, Towards east in Nandgaon Range small gregarious patches of Babul and Khair raised mostly on agri-silvi in the past are met with.

Sandalwood is found occurring gregariously in patches in this zone in a narrow belt running north-west to south-east.

The forests on below ghat areas are susceptible to recurrent severe fires annually. There is hardly any humus on the ground.

The 'above ghat' forest areas are honey-combed with continued encroachments for cultivation. Cultivation in forest areas received impetus during war period when greater number of forest plots were given out for agriculture for growing more food, This gave rise to unauthorised cultiva­tion in the forest areas, which in preceding few years was carried out on fairly large scale, Nearly 205.25 km² (79.25 sq. miles) of forest area fit for cultivation and which was under continuous encroachment for a number of years is being permanently deforested and given up for agriculture.

Forests in the eastern part of the district are mostly barren, Since this area is thickly populated, the pressure of grazing on these forests is also very heavy, Nomadic tribes owning large flocks of sheep and goats indulge in unauthorised grazing in the forests, This factor, with un­authorised exploitation in the past, has resulted in the present depleted condition of the growing stock.

The classification of the forests by legal status in the district is as under.

A.	In charge of Forest Depart­ment­
	(a) Reserved Forests	3,046.80 km2	(1,176.37 sq. miles)
	(b) Protected Forests	245.40 km2	(94.75 sq. miles)
	(c) Unclassed Forests	32.66 km2	(12.61 sq. miles)
B.	In charge of Revenue Depart­ment­
	Pasture Reserves	101.94 km2	(39. 36 sq. miles)
		3426.80 km2	(1,323. 09 sq. miles)

The first systematic management of the forests in the district except for those of Surgana taluka was introduced in the year 1905-06. Forests of Surgana Range covering an area of 189.02 km² (72.98 sq. miles) which till 1948 were under primary control, came to be managed after 1942-43, Almost the entire forest area in the district at present is under regular management,

For the sake of easy and smooth administration these forests [District Census Handbook, Nasik District, 1961] are divided into two divisions, viz. (1) West Nasik Forest Division and (2) East Nasik Forest Division. The West Nasik Forest Division spread over the western talukas of the district extends into Ahmadnagar district, whereas the East Nasik Forest Division comprises two-third part of Nasik district and _ small part of Vaijapur taluka of Aurangabad district. Each division is in charge of the Divisional Forest Officer. The headquarters for both these divisions are at Nasik and both these officers work under the conservator of forests, Nasik Circle, Nasik. The forests under the control of the Revenue Department, are looked after by the collector of the district.

The following statement gives the administrative set up of the forest divisions:

Name of Division	Total Forests area (Sq. Mile)	No of ranges	No. of Rounds	No. of beats	Average area of Administra­tive unit in the Division
					Range	Round	Beat
East Nasik	2149.88 km (830.07)	7	30	126	118.5	27.6	6.6
West Nasik	1174.98 km (453.66)	5	28	92	90.5	16.2	5.8

Production: The approximate annual production of the principal forest produce during 1961-62 to 1964-65 is as under:

Teak	7,96,052 Cft.
Salai (Secondary timber)	Nil
Ain	40,765 Cft.
Sisam	3,129 Cft.
Haldul	24,900 Cft.
Kalam	5,135 Cft.
Tiwas	9,845 Cft.
Other species	9,166 Cft.
Bamboos	1,000 Tons (4.06 lac numbers) (The production of bamboos has gone down in preceding 5 years due to its gregarious flowering in 1959-60. Once the fresh stock is ready it is expected that this production will be approximately 4 times the present one).
Fuel	15,959 M. Tons.
Fodder	10,338 M. Tons.
Rosha grass	453 Kg.
Gum (Kadhai and other)	219 Quintals.
Hirda fruit	335.14 M. Tons.
Bidi leaves	108 M. Tons.

The present annual production of various forest produce is still inadequate to warrant establishment of industrial enterprises.

Revenue and Expenditure: The following data gives the annual expenditure and revenue from the forests managed by Forest Department in the district:                                                                            

Period	Revenue (Gross) lac Rs.	Total	Surplus or Deficit, lac Rs. (+ or -)
1920-21 to 1924-25	2.322	1.956	+ 0.366
1925-26 to 1929-30	3.169	2.555	+ 0.614
1930-31 to 1934-35	2.579	1.657	+ 0.922
1935-36 to 1939-40	2.212	1.570	+ 0.642
1940-41 to 1944-45	4.956	2.641	+ 2.315
1945-46 to 1949-50	12.233	4.892	+ 7.341
1950-51 to 1954-55	17.034	5.042	+ 11.992
1955-56 to 1959-60	42 .194	11 .361	+ 30.833
1960-61	53.796	23.274	+ 30.522
1961-62	70.369	21.310	+ 49.059
1962-63	45.055	37.175	+ 7.880
1963-64	72.632	39.631	+ 33.001
1964-65	108.835	40.191	+ 68.644
1960-61 to 1964-65	70.137	32.315	+ 37.822

There are no forest-based industries .in the district. Exploitation of timber and fuel-wood is mostly carried out through the agency of Forest Labourers' Co-operative Societies, There are 33 Forest Labourers' Co­operative Societies in the district exploiting about 80 coupes annually Exploitation of bamboos is still done by consumers directly.

The disposal of timber, firewood and charcoal is carried out either through the agency of the Forest Labourers' Co-operative Societies or by departmental agency. Two major depots in the district are run by the department, one at Nasik and the other at Vani. From the year 1960-61, the material from forests of Surgana Range was being taken to Waghai in Dangs, district of Gujarat State where a departmental sale depot was being run, This depot has been closed since 1965. However, two Forest Labourers' Co-operative Societies are still taking their material to Waghai for disposal.

In addition, two main sales depots and a number of retail depots have been established at various centres in the district  which mainly cater to the local demand.

Much of the timber sold in, departmental depots is purchased by out­siders and exported to adjacent districts of Poona, Ahmadnagar and Thana. Likewise, some of the small sized timber from border areas of Thana district still continues to be transported to Ghoti for sale to surrounding villagers.

Working Plans: There are different working plans [District Census Handbook, 1961] for the different forests in the State. For the exploitation of forests the working plans are chalked out systematically and scientifically. The forests in Peint and adjoining areas are worked under selection-rum-improvement system under Dangs plan and Surgana scheme. The above Ghat forests are worked under clear felling reserves system and artificial regeneration in suitable areas with teak and injaili. In the thinly wooded areas efforts are made to reclothe the forests as far as possible.

Developmental Schemes: The following important schemes have been included in the Third Five- Year Plan for the development of forests in the district:

(1) Plantation of valuable tree--Plantation of teak and eucalyptus has been carried out in 182 .109 hectares (450 acres) involving an outlay of Rs. 0. 56 lakh.

(2) Survey and demarcation of forests.-There is a proposed plan to survey an area measuring 45,324.832 hectares (1.12 lakh. acres) for which the outlay sanctioned is Rs. 0.30 lakh. In the year 1961-62, survey and demarcation work in 64'75 km² (25 sq. miles) was completed.

(3) Afforestation for soil conservation.- The area measuring 2,792.333 hectares (6,900 acres) is proposed to be afforested which will involve an outlay of Rs. 5.10 lakhs. In the year 1961-62 afforestation was done in 112. 300 hectare (277.50 acres).

(4) Development of forest pastures.-It is. also proposed to carry out plantation of pastures in 485. 623 hectares (1,200 acres) and fencing to be done over nine miles with an outlay of Rs. 1.07 lakhs. Plantation work in 52. 002 hectares (128. 50 acres) has already been done in 1961-62.

(5) Development of minor forest produce.-Financial and physical targets are not available separately for the district. Under the scheme an area of 40.468 hectares (100 acres) was planted with bamboo species in the year 1961-62.

In addition about 200 nursery beds for raising bamboo plantation were prepared during the same year.