Himachal Pradesh to go 'herbal' with massive plantation drive

By Vishal GulatiShimla, Jan 28 (IANS)

Himachal Pradesh is going in for massiveplantation of indigenous species, especially medicinal plants, to notjust boost its depleting green cover but also transform the hill stateinto a herbal one.The state authorities planted more than 1.5 million saplings on asingle day Aug 3 last year. The government plans to plant around 12million saplings of medicinal species this year by encouraging thepeople to take to the drive.Saplings of more than 55 indigenous species like neem, banyan, jamunand peepal would be planted during the special drives, starting withthe onset of monsoon, an official said."The aim of the plantation drive is not only to make the hill stateherbal but is also an initiative to combat climate change," ForestMinister J.P. Nadda told IANS."We intend to re-green 2,677 hectares this year," he said.The government has roped in the joint forest management committees,local people and the National Medicinal Plant Board for carrying outthe plantation drives."For the regions below 4,500 feet, around 9,300 villages have beenidentified where people would be encouraged to plant pipal or banyantrees," Nadda said.Additional Chief Secretary Avay Shukla, who is associated with theprogramme, said the aim of such programmes was to motivate the commonman to know the importance of commercially valuable species."Once the villagers start understanding its economic benefits, theprogramme would gain momentum," he said.During the last plantation campaign, the maximum demand from peoplewas for saplings of the medicinal plant amla, he said, adding that388,629 amla saplings were distributed.Wild pomegranate (136,470 saplings), bhera (89,350), ritha (56,386)and harad (30,601) followed amla in popularity in the villages.In the towns, aloe vera was the most popular as 26,328 saplings weredistributed.The state already has a quarter of its geographical area under forest cover.The hill state is most vulnerable to climate change as the Himalayanglaciers have been retreating due to global warming.The latest report of the Forest Survey of India has revealed that thearea of the state's moderate dense forests - tree-cover ranging from40 to 70 percent - has decreased from 7,883 sq km to 7,831 sq km, areduction of 52 sq km.However, the area under very dense forests - tree-cover in excess of70 percent - has marginally increased from 1,093 sq km to 1,097 sq km.

Indo-Asian News Service