76 hectares to be covered under Social forestry

Karkala, Karnataka, June 14 (UNI) The Udupi Social Forestry Division under Udupi Zilla panchayat had planned to bring under an additional 76 hectares of government land under social forestry during 2007-08.

This is in addition to 2000 hectares already covered during last five years. The division had planted 93,000 various variety plants during 2006-07 and planned to plant 99,000 saplings during 2007-08, said Mr Prakash Netalkar, the Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) today at Mala, about 20 kms from here.

Talking to visiting newsmen at Mala-Koodige plant centre where the social forestry had been taken up by the division under Japan Bank International Corporation (JBIC), the division had last year distributed 900 saplings of mixed variety for demonstration plantation in five private lands besides developing free plantation in the land belonging to Scheduled Tribe community. During 2006-07, the division had reached the set target of developing plantation in 107.75 hectares and 30 kms roadside plantation. It had also developed 7.1265 lakh saplings as against the target of developing 7.2750 lakh saplings, he added.

Mr Netalkar said that during the year, the department in Karkala taluk had cut grown up trees planted 10 years back in 245.15 hectares plantation by which it could sell 7954 MT pulp wood and acacia and earned Rs. 58.83 lakh revenue. 50 per cent of the earned revenue had been transferred to the 12 Gram Panachayats coming under Karkala for various developmental activities while the remaining 50 per cent had been earmarked for reforestation activities.

Replying a query, Mr Netalkar said that the department had also taken steps this year to take up extensive vermi-culture besides developing medicinal plants, high variety cashew plants and bio-fuel plants. There was great demand for Bilvapatra (Suave lens) and Mahogany plants. Twenty one hectares from four gram panchayats of Karkala would be covered under social forestry scheme for plantation.

UNI