In the Media
Efforts on to save green cover in state in India
February 28, 2011
Business Standard
State Forest Minister C H Vijayashankar said here on Sunday that measures had been taken to provide clarity on the forest policy in the state so that the green cover is protected and improved by initiating a plan of action, including a ban on cultivation of eucalyptus and acacia trees in the identified areas.
He said, realising the need to check monoculture as a step towards maintaining ecological balance, a decision had been taken to ban, in a phased manner, the planting of Eucalyptus trees keeping in mind the requirement of industries and fuel needs, in the evergreen forest area like the Western Ghats, Malnad and semi-Malnad areas where it was cultivated against forest regulations. Similarly, Acacia cultivation had been banned in Malnad and semi-Malnad areas.
After demarcating forest and non-forest areas, a decision had been taken to undertake plantation in non-forest areas like canal roads, bunds and achkat areas, which are lying barren over several years.
While reiterating that the misuse of forest land would not be allowed, the minister asserted that the interests of the forest tribals would be protected, as they were a part of the forest and its conservation.
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Keywords: Acacia, Asia, Eucalyptus, Forest, forest tribals, India