The forests of Bastar which are purelv tropical, and deciduous 
can be broadly classified as Tectona grandis (Teak), Shorea 
robusta (Sal) and miscellaneous tynes which contain almost all 
the assortments which are capable of catering to the demand of 
all the utility classes needed to establish an integrated complex 
of forest-based industries. The average assortment of annual cut 
in major utility classes from these forests could be estimated 
as 2% special size timber of Shorea robusta (Sal), 2% plvwood 
and veneer logs, 18% sawmilling material, 9% poles and small 
timber and some 68% pulp and fuelwood (FAO Report 1970 & Report 
on Forest Resources of Naravanpur Catchment, 1970). These figures 
may vary for each forest type separately but thev certainly give 
an indication of vast potential still waiting to be harvested 
for industrial development. 
As against the picture of potential annual cut, the tempo of 
management and exploitation in the region has been low. The en- 
tire area is covered by working plans and working schemes except 
"Abhjhmad" which is still being maintained as sacrosant tribal 
area bv the Government. Most of the forest areas are exnloitable 
barring some bits which need protection. For a long time, Bastar 
forests were exploited only for railway sleepers and all the loos 
and tops were left in the forest as the rest of the tree had 
no market. With the improvement in communications and as a re- 
sult of nationalisation of timber trade in Madhya Pradesh from 
1970, the intensity of exploitation of forests has slightlv in- 
creased but for want of adequate demand, the forests of Bastar 
are still being worked on selective basis onlv for large-size 
timber. The selective working has resulted in creaming out of 
the best trees and leaving all the undesirable and voung growth 
in the forest resulting in the progressive deterioration of and 
imbalance in the growing stock. No tending operations are being 
done. Thus, from the silvicultural point of view, it is essential 
that a proper demand is created within the region for all the 
assortments available. 
At the present level of demand, the annual cut from these forests 
is nearly 200,00 m* of larger size timber only. There is nracti- 
cally no working in Bamboo, though vrovided for. The Bamboo po- 
tential in Bastar is 32$/the total annual potential of the state 
(1,055,000 tonnes) and 8% of the annual potential of the country. 
Like Bamboo, there is practically no demand for pulpwood/fuelwood 
which is about two-third of the total annual potential. 
With huge auantity of raw material awaiting nroner utilisation in 
Bastar, how is it that the resource has practically remained locked 
up; SETH, V.K., SAXENA, O.P. and TANDON, M.N. (1977) have studied 
this problem and have mentioned that at the outset, it should be 
made clear that there is hardlv anv area in Bastar which could 
be categorised as inaccessible. Topogranhy being gentle to 
moderately undulating, the area has remained locked un due to 
other factors 
- Low level of demand and marketabilitv limited to large-size 
timber. 
- Low road densitv and long leads. 
Absence of rail link with the northern part of the State.