Jodhpur handicraft sector seeks Centre's help against 'stringent EU deforestation regulation'
Jodhpur, July 29 -- A looming crisis threatens the wooden handicraft industry in Jodhpur and across India as the European Union's new Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect from December 30, could severely disrupt the sector's operations. The Jodhpur Handicraft Exporters Federation, in a memorandum to the central government, has expressed urgent concerns over the regulation's stringent compliance requirements, urging for immediate intervention to safeguard the livelihoods of millions involved in the industry.
The EUDR aims to eliminate deforestation and forest degradation linked to commodities such as timber, soy, palm oil, and coffee, by ensuring that only deforestation-free supply chains are permitted within the European market. However, the federation contends that this regulation, while addressing important environmental concerns, could have unintended consequences for India's handicraft sector, particularly in Jodhpur, a city renowned for its wooden handicrafts.
Naresh Bothra, president of the Jodhpur Handicraft Exporters Federation, said: "The majority of wooden handicrafts exported from India are made from Mango, Acacia, and Sheesham - species that are primarily grown under agroforestry systems. These species are cultivated in a way that does not contribute to deforestation or the degradation of natural forests. These trees are part of India's agroforestry practices, which have a minimal environmental footprint."
"We have been raising our concerns through various forums for a long time. Through the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the Federation has also informed the relevant ministries of the central government about the difficulties that the proposed regulations may cause and has called for intervention," he said.
The federation referred to the data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), which highlights that India's Tree outside Forest (TOF) cover stands at 1,779.35 million cubic metres. Of this, Mango and Acacia contribute around 13 million cubic metres annually, with the handicraft sector consuming 0.5% of the total growing stock.
Bothra stressed that these new requirements could lead to severe consequences for the industry. "The practicalities of implementing such documentation for every tree used in the handicraft production process are almost impossible," he said. He further said that this could result in significant disruptions, including loss of access to the EU market, cancellations of orders, and production delays, all of which could threaten the livelihoods of over 1 million artisans who depend on the sector....
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