Aerial seedling by Forest Dept to boost green cover

The Forest Department is embarking on a major 'Green Initiative' to increase the forest cover in the district and transform it into a Green District. To realize the objective, the department is launching an initiative code-named 'Ariel Seedling Project' coinciding with its 66th Vana Mahotsavam.

Under the project the department is aiming at raising 66,000 plants in every constituency by way of aerial seedling. By raising 65,000 plants in every constituency, the district would rapidly boost its green cover. The Vana Mahotsav would kick start a major initiative boost. Students and schools would be involved to make them partner in the unique initiative.

The department is taking the help of Kadiyam nurseries to meet the huge demand for the plants. Also avenue plantations are being planned to cover 175 km radius in the district extending over all state and national high ways in the four forest ranges of the district.

80 lakh seedlings are already being raised through its nurseries. About 40 lakh seedlings are presently available. The seedlings include casurena, teak and red sanders apart from tamarind, soap nuts and neem etc. The entire coastal belt will have casuarina. the pet project of the district is planting of Red sanders and teak plantations covering the land like a canopy.

District Forest Officer K.Lohitasyudu, in conversation with 'The Hans India' said that Aerial Seedling will be launched during July 8-15th and the operation would be for a day or two. Sandy soils would be suitable for Casuarina. Stumps would be supplied for teak and red sanders around one lakh each under the NREG scheme.

Watch and Ward will be posted to ensure that no cattle would feed on the plants. The District Forest Officer also says that there is no ban on raising any plantation including Red Sanders. Red Sander is actually in the world's CITES list and is under regulation. Roughly 5,600 species of animals and 30,000 species of plants are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade. They are listed in the three CITES Appendices.

The species are grouped in the Appendices according to how threatened they are by international trade. They include some whole groups, such as primates, cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), sea turtles, parrots, corals, cacti and orchids. The precious content in the Red Sander is 'Heart Wood' which is found inside the log and not its outer portion. The forest grown red sanders are of immense value than one grown in a house backyard.

The DFO says that every plant now being supplied for boosting green cover is accounted for. Plantations taken by parties and planted are photographed and until and unless every organization is prepared to reveal how the plantations are being used or planted, supplies are denied. A private and independent agency will be asked to verify and account for all the plantations supplied.

By Ravi P Benjamin