Shivamogga forest faces teakwood smuggling

Shivamogga: Shivamogga district's renowned teak forests, including in the historic Doddamatti in Ayanur forest range, Kumsi hobli, is under the threat of illegal tree felling and smuggling of the teakwood.
From June 2024 to Feb 2025, around 12 cases of illegal tree felling were registered, DCF (territorial) Shivashankar said.
This former manganese ore site, transformed into a lush forest in the 1990s along the Kumudvathi river, spans over 4,000 hectares. The area serves as a habitat for leopards, wild boar, spotted deer and other wildlife, whilst housing more than 60 families around 6km from the Shivamogga-Sagar highway.
Environmental activists have flagged increased teak smuggling in the region. Despite a permanent checkpoint at the Doddimatti road entrance, monitoring remains inadequate. The forest's multiple village access points and private pathways complicate surveillance.
The DCF (territorial) said human settlements prevent complete access restriction. Although the department implements annual sapling plantation schemes, wildfires pose a persistent threat, destroying considerable shrubland near the village.
Chirag from Rain Land Trust NGO told TOI that whilst long-term residents pose minimal threat, timber smuggling continues unabated, noting historical instances of log transportation via the Kumudvathi river. He advocates for increased departmental staffing.
Meanwhile, village residents demand infrastructure improvement, with more than 300 voters consistently boycotting elections. The remaining forest cover along the Shivamogga-Sagar highway faces pressure from development and encroachment. Recent elephant sightings in the area have raised additional concerns.