Shifting cultivation destroying forest vegetation in Mizoram

Aizawl, June 12 (UNI) More than 40,000 hectares of forest vegetation gets destroyed each year in Mizoram due to shifting cultivation practiced by the farmers, who constitute more than half of the population here.

While inagurating tree plantation drive on the occasion of 'Green Mizoram Day', Home Minister Tawnluia informed, "We destroy more than 40,000 hectares of land through the practice of shifting cultivation for which the state forests department has been trying to compensate by having afforestation drives".

The minister, however, underlined that ''this alone is not enough and there is a great need for the public to participate in this drive. We must show greater efforts towards this as we need to restore the ecological balance''.

He further added that a need for public participation towards compensating the destruction is required since the effort made by the Forests' department alone is not enough.

The first Green Mizoram Day was observed in 1999 and has been observed ever since. However, since the trees planted needed maintenance, the State Level Committee on Green Mizoram chalked out a new plan of action this year through which trees were to be sponsored by individuals and groups.

The committee has decided on this course of action since the state coffers could not afford the maintenance of thousands of trees planted each year on Green Mizoram Day.

According to the Forests&Environment department's calculations, an estimated cost of Rs 1400 is required to plant a tree and for its maintenance upto a period of three years.

At present, individuals, groups and associations have sponsored around 98 trees.

UNI SNR TJP/XC KLC1356