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Forest department strategy paying dividends
The Forest Department’s action plan to bring 9.50 lakh hectares under green cover by the year 2029 has resulted in increasing forest area and present a conducive atmosphere for the survival of wild animals. The forest department’s efforts to prevent forest fires and their measures yielded positive results, according to DFO Chandra Sekhar.
Anantapur: The Forest Department’s action plan to bring 9.50 lakh hectares under green cover by the year 2029 has resulted in increasing forest area and present a conducive atmosphere for the survival of wild animals. The forest department’s efforts to prevent forest fires and their measures yielded positive results, according to DFO Chandra Sekhar.
Presently the green cover is limited to 1.96 lakh hectares while another 20,000 hectares is under way. The plan is aimed to increase forest area which would help for wild life protection and for conservation of the green cover. The geographical area of the district is 19 lakh hectares, out of which the forest area is 1.96 lakh hectares, agriculture 8.92 lakh hectares, horticulture 72,031 hectares. Barren hills and hillocks constitute 1.65 lakh hectares and waste lands 50,000 hectares.
Chandra Sekhar says that favourable conditions created by the forest department helped to an increase in the number of wild animals in the reserved forest areas. It is said that the number of wild animals has doubled in the reserve forests. A fresh census over population of wild animals in 2018 January indicated that many species survived dry spells and drought conditions during the last two years.
The leopard population has been increased and according to an estimate there are 130 leopards. In addition, about 60 wild cats are said to be living in the hills of Kalyanadurgam, Madakasira, Kadiri and Penukonda forests. The DFO stated that the population of leopards, black bucks, bears, foxes and other animals would witness a boom.
There were more than 450 bears and 30,000 black bucks last year. The officials said that drinking water is available in all areas of the reserve forest and hills. The department had dug water trenches at several places to make water available to the wild life.
Speaking to ‘The Hans India’ Chandrasekhar has said that the department is implementing a three-pronged strategy to increase forest cover, to protect wild life and to prevent forest fires. As the year 2017-18 is coming to a close, the target to plant 15 lakh trees are nearing completion.
About 1.06 crore plants are being raised in nurseries. There are 272 Samitis which had been roped in to spread the green cover movement. Last year 65 lakh saplings were planted. In non-forest areas 65 percent of plants survived boosting the ecology of the forest.
There are 283 forest nurseries which are engaged in raising of multiple species of saplings. District Collector Veera Pandian is the moving force behind the speedy execution of the three-pronged green strategy.
By Ravi P Benjamin
