Forest Dept begins drive to increase green cover in Chandigarh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 7

To increase the green cover in the city, the Forest Department has started a drive, “Forest Department at your doorsteps”, on the occasion of Vanamahotsav-2020 during the monsoon season.

Under the drive, the department will distribute saplings to general public without any formal application from July 10 to July 31.

Survey report

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As per the Forest Survey of India report released last year, 51.04 per cent open forest area in rural Chandigarh consists of eucalyptus and 13.17 per cent area of the open forest in the urban area comprises mango trees.

The department has designated three vehicles for free distribution of door-to-door saplings from 9 am to 6 pm.

The department said a person could take up to five plants of his/her choice of species free of cost from these vehicles. The UT had a total forest area of 3,245.30 hectares.

The Forest Department claimed that the total green cover of the city had increased from 41 per cent in 2017 to 46 per cent in 2019 which includes open forest, very dense forest and moderately dense forest.

As per the Forest Survey of India report released last year, 51.04 per cent open forest area in rural Chandigarh consists of eucalyptus and 13.17 per cent area of the open forest in the urban area comprises mango trees.