International Day of Forests: J&K targets to plant 1.5 crore forest saplings this season: Officials

Srinagar, March 20: With an aim to improve forest cover in Jammu and Kashmir, the Forest Department is all set to plant 1.5 crore plants this season which will commence on International Day of Forests (March 21), officials said.
Conservator of Forest, Srinagar Circle, Zubair Ahmad Shah said out of the total 1.5 crore saplings to be planted in J&K more than 70 lakh would be planted in Kashmir valley only.
“The saplings of different species would be planted in forest areas and barren lands in villages and industrial areas in order to increase the forest cover,” he said.
He said in Srinagar city only the department in association with Social Forestry, Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) will plant some two lakh saplings.
When asked about the tree felling due to several reasons in the existing forest cover, Shah said they plant saplings in the forest under three different schemes including Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), CAPEX and National Mission for Green India (GIM).
“Mostly the plants are planted under CAMPA scheme. The scheme aims that whatever trees are felled due to many reasons we plant double the amount in the forests,” he said.
Shah said due to snow avalanches or other natural disasters many trees fell down and the department keeps planting more plants of different forest species.
“In case of Deodar, Kairu, Badloo etc. the forest trees remain green round the year which adds to the ecology and the environment and acts as a habitat for the wild animals,” he said.
Shah also said that when there is a good forest cover it also helps to cover snow under it for a longer period in the spring season and it also helps in rainfall. “The role of forest trees in forest, as well as non-forest areas, is an essential part of the ecological balance,” he said.
Recognizing the importance of forests and tree cover in providing ecological security and creation of livelihoods besides meeting the bonafide needs of fuel wood and fodder, the department has included tree planting as part of the save environment campaign.
On the other hand, the Social Forestry Department Kashmir would also distribute 3.5 lakh male popular plants among farmers on nominal charges under farm forestry this season across many districts in Kashmir.
Regional Director Social Forestry Department, Kashmir, Mehraj Ud Din Malik said this season they will distribute 3.5 lakh male popular plants as the campaign has been started.
“Why we are planting male popular plants is that the female popular shed cotton after spring which often creates problems for people and people often complain of female popular trees. We also encourage the plantation of poplar trees in farm forestry,” he said.
Over the past several years, Kashmir has witnessed fluctuating temperatures, early warming and melting of snow in early winter due to the impact of global warming.
Officials said this year has been warmer and witnessed a rise in temperature in winter as compared to previous years, especially in February and March.
Ajaz Rasool, hydraulic engineering expert and environmentalist said the temperature is rising and this year February witnessed record hot temperature in the country and it is happening due to the emission of fossil fuels in developed countries.
“The atmosphere has got super loaded with fossil fuels and gases and all. That has created a problem and that is why global warming is happening,” he said.
The senior environmentalist said forest has encroached at many places which has been recovered at many places. He said planting trees is a good move.
“But we are not doing the matching plantation of the already degraded forest land the way it should have been done. Before any plantation there should be a proper plan so that trees are not felled later due to road construction and other activities,” he said.