3 khairwood saplings planted for each tree cut down in Una

In an effort to increase the forest cover in Una district, the Una forest division has initiated a plan to plant three saplings of khairwood in place of each mature tree that was being cut under the 10-year felling plan of the department.

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One of the most-prized forest produce

Khairwood, one of the most-prized forest produce in the district, mostly grows wild on private uncultivated land. Some enterprising farmers, however, have begun planting saplings on their vacant land. The heartwood of the mature tree has catechu, a form of catechin that is extracted by ‘kattha’ boilers registered with the Forest Department.

Khairwood, which is one of the most-prized forest produce in the district, mostly grows wild on private uncultivated land in the district.

Some enterprising farmers, however, have begun planting saplings on their vacant land. The heartwood of the mature tree has catechu, a form of catechin that is extracted by ‘kattha’ boilers registered with the Forest Department.

The felling of mature khairwood trees on private land is regulated under the Forest Working Plan, in which a ten-year felling period is strictly maintained for each census village or panchayat.

Under the plan, one tenth of private forest land would be opened every year for the felling of mature khairwood trees to provide income to local farmers. The areas where trees are cut down in one year would remain closed for felling during the subsequent nine years to allow young trees to mature. Divisional Forest Officer Sushil Kumar Rana said about 1.25 lakh khairwood saplings were cultivated in the various nurseries of the department in the district.

Funds amounting to Rs 7 lakh for growing 55,000 saplings were provided by the State Biodiversity Board, he added. He said contractors that harvested mature khairwood trees during the monsoon season under the plan were ordered to plant three saplings on the same private land in lieu of each harvested tree.

The state had a forest cover of 15,442 square km, which was about 27 per cent of the total geographical area of the state, and the share of forests in Una district was 632.33 sq km, Rana added. He said the department was making efforts to increase the forest cover from the existing 27 per cent to 30 per cent, and the khairwood propagation campaign in Una district was part of this drive.

The DFO said in a first, the District Stone Crushers Association, which undertakes mining operations, had been motivated to plant saplings in various parts of the district.

At least 1,100 saplings of different forest species were planted on a hectare during the rainy season, while another 4,000 saplings were distributed to school students for planting near their homes, he added. The students also took an oath to protect these saplings.

Rana said the Industries Department planted 3,000 saplings in various industrial areas in the district.

He added that the Forest Department planted another 1.5 lakh plants in different parts of the district under the maintenance plan to compensate for plant mortality in areas where plantation was done during the last two years. The role of the community, farmers and children was crucial in increasing the green cover, he said.