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10 million
saplings to be planted on 15,000 Ha through people’s participation
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Srinagar: To promote
and increase the forest cover in J&K through people’s participation, the
Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of Lieutenant
Governor, G C Murmu, accorded approval to the Forest Department’s proposal of
organizing an integrated ‘Green J&K Drive- 2020’ to double the plantation
target achieved during previous year.
With an aim of planting 100
lakh trees covering 15,000 hectares of degraded forest areas during the year
2020-21, the drive will seek participation from Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs), line departments, , educational institutions, army, para-military
forces, police and civil society, for which
the Forest Department will provide the requisite tree saplings. The
Forest Department will also prepare a proposal for sharing the usufruct with
Panchayats.
Additionally, the plantation
drive will help rehabilitate the degraded forests, enhance afforestation of
suitable areas including vacant lands outside forests, village woodlots, farm
lands and fallow lands.
The drive extensively focuses
on extending tree cover outside forests to reduce pressure on natural forests
for supplying minor forest produce, increasing sustainability of forest/tree
cover, and optimally utilizing the mitigation and adaptation potential of
forests in the context of climate change and resilient land use; which will
invariably improve the scenic beauty of Jammu & Kashmir, besides improving
the quality and regulation of water in its major rivers.
Green J&K plantation drive
is a step forward in achieving the goal under the National Forest Policy which
envisages hill states to have two-third geographical area under green cover to
ensure stability of fragile eco-system.
Further, the decision also targets
augmenting livelihood opportunities amidst existing COVID pandemic by creating
1.3 million man days for unskilled labour to undertake activities like
production of saplings, their transportation, plantation, maintenance, and
collection and sale of minor forest produce.
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