Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 6 (EMN): In a move to give a boost to its green canopy and to help in mitigating the climate change impacts, Manipur Forest department is all set to plant one lakh trees in valley areas in the state on 7 July. The massive plantation will be conducted at ten locations in valley areas in the state in collaboration with around 150 local bodies, clubs, organisations, institutions, and village people to enhance its green expanse, according to senior forest official.
“The idea is to set a beginning as trees are the nature’s moderator of the green house gases and also to create mass awareness on the importance of tree plantation by involving local people,” says the official. Besides this, the department is set all to launch first ever massive plantation drive wherein the authority decides to plant 9.95 lakh seedlings of 30 different tree species across the state this season.‘Once all these seedlings in the department’s stock were planted, it can cover an area of 5 sq km which is somewhat equivalent to more than five times the size of existing Kangla Fort area in Imphal or size of Imphal town area.’ Every three individuals will have just one sapling for plantation,”the official said. “So we need to raise more saplings which mean we need more funds for smooth conduct of Vanamahotsava next.”
The department decided to undertake the ‘Go to Fields’ campaign as part of the ruling government’s ‘Go to Hills’ initiative during the ongoing Vanamahotsava, the festival of forest which is being observed annually from July 1-7. According to Forest Survey of India, 2015 record, 76.11 per cent of the state’s total geographical area (22,327 sq km) is under forest cover which includes very dense forest area of 727 sq km and tree cover area of 243 sq km.
