Date:24/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/24/stories/2007072450830200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Efforts to rejuvenate the green expanse pay off

S. Harpal Singh

Number of teak trees besides allied species can be seen in Adilabad forests

Restoring forest tracts: Adilabad Conservator of Forests B.S. Yousuf Sharief (right) inspecting a plot under Chintaguda VSS where large-scale regeneration of teak and other trees is being done.

CHINTAGUDA (ADILABAD DT.): The effort of Adilabad Forest department made towards natural rejuvenation of degraded forests is surely an optimist’s delight so far as protection of bio-diversity is concerned.

Control of biotic intervention by simply fencing off select tracts of forest area across the district has given the germinating plants a much needed chance to grow.

After about three years of sustained efforts, an unusually large number of teak trees besides many allied species can be seen growing in the wilderness without the fear of either being eaten away by grazing animals or just being trampled under their hoofs.

‘’The forests definitely need some respite from external interference. Natural regeneration is perhaps the best source of protecting the support systems of human development. Forests are a common property resource that can be used by generations to come", observed B.S. Yousuf Sharief, Conservator of Forests, Adilabad.

During 2003-2004 nearly 76,000 hectares of forest area was fenced off under the project with the intention of facilitating natural growth of teak.

Natural growth

In addition, nearly 9,000 hectares of area also came under treatment for improvement of natural growth of bamboo the same year.

Also, bamboo has been planted in about 5,000 hectares of such protected area.

Though this area is a little over the total forest area of 7 lakh hectares, this effort to rejuvenate can become a bench mark for the future.

Concerned Vana Samrakshana Samitis (VSS) fence off the forest plots which measure about 20 hectares each on an average.

It is also the job of the VSS to protect the fencing. The department has introduced some medicinal plants that were provided the fenced protection for growth like Maredugadda (Aegel marmelos), Senna (Cassia angustifolia), Aswagandha (Withania somnifera).