Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao approved a proposal for collaborative research on reforestation of ROFR (Recognition of Forest Rights) lands.
The government, through the forest department, will promote planting of trees by the individuals and communities in these lands as most of these lands are not having irrigation facilities and are poor in fertility and productivity.
"This is with a view to bring these lands under tree cover and as part of the Haritha Haram project to increase the tree cover in the state from 24 percent to 33 percent," said a statement from the chief minister's office.
An area spread over 40 hectares will be set apart at Mulugu forest in Medak district for the collaborative research between the forest and horticulture departments.
Forest rights over 3.41 lakh hectares of forest land were recognized in favour of about one lakh people and 744 communities in the state since 2008 under Scheduled Tribes and other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
The forest department with collaboration from horticulture university take up experiments with different types of horticulture, silviculture and agriculture species so as to improve the economic status of the individuals and communities and also to maximize and harness the productivity of these lands.
The State has reported a recorded forest area of 26,904 sq km which is 24.00% of its geographical area. The Reserved, Protected and Unclassed Forests are 75.65%, 22.07% and 2.28% respectively, of recorded forest area.
Forests play a major role in supporting livelihood activities of rural poor and tribals, mitigating the threat of global warming besides, conserving the fertile soil and vulnerable Wildlife. For the year 2015-16, forestry and logging contribution is 0.4 percent to State GVA and 3.3 percent to agriculture & allied sector’s GVA.
Forest area in Telangana is 27,292 sq. km. accounting for 24.35 percent of total geographical area. Out of 27,292 sq.km, Reserved Forest area is 19,696.23 sq. km, Protected forest forms 6953.47 sq. km and the rest 642.30 sq. km is unclassified.
Forestry in Bangaru Telangana
Forests play a major role in supporting livelihood activities of rural poor and tribals, mitigating the threat of global warming besides, conserving the fertile soil and vulnerable Wildlife. For the year 2015-16, forestry and logging contribution is 0.4 percent to State GVA and 3.3 percent to agriculture & allied sector’s GVA.
Forest area in Telangana is 27,292 sq. km. accounting for 24.35 percent of total geographical area. Out of 27,292 sq.km, Reserved Forest area is 19,696.23 sq. km, Protected forest forms 6953.47 sq. km and the rest 642.30 sq. km is unclassified.
In terms of District wise forest cover, Adilabad has largest area under forest, followed by Khammam. However, in terms of percentage area under forest, Khammam stands first with 48.9 percent of total geographical area under forests, followed by Adilabad with 44.9 percent and Warangal with 28.88 percent.
National Forest Policy of India envisages a minimum of 33 percent of the total geographical area under forest/tree cover to maintain environmental stability and ecological balance; that are vital for sustenance of all life-forms including human, animal and plants.
The role of forests as carbon sinks endows them added recognition as an important environmental factor. However, except in two districts, area under forest cover is less than desired 33 percent.
Telanganaku Haritha Haram
Telanganaku Haritha Haram, a flagship programme of the Government, envisages to increase the present 24% tree cover to 33% of the total geographical area of the State. The thrust areas to achieve the above are two-fold; i) initiatives in notified forest area such as rejuvenating degraded forests, ensuring more effective protection of forests against smuggling, encroachment, fire, grazing etc., ii) major fillip is sought to be given to Social Forestry for achieving the second objective.
In the areas outside the notified forest, massive planting activities will be taken up in areas such as; road-side avenues, river and canal bank, barren hill, tank bunds and foreshore areas, institutional premises, religious places, housing colonies, community lands, municipalities, industrial parks, etc.
The Telanganaku Haritha Haram programme was launched on 3rd July, 2015. 230 Crore seedlings are proposed to be planted in the State during the next three years. Out of which, 130 crore seedlings are proposed to be planted outside the notified forest area (10 crore within HMDA limits, and the remaining 120 crore in rest of the State).
It is also proposed to plant, and rejuvenate the viable rootstock to achieve 100 crore plants inside the forest areas by way of intensive protection of the forests. The field functionaries of various line Departments have undertaken identification of sites for planting and prepared village Action Plans.
The Village Action Plans will be consolidated at Mandal level and finally at the District level to form District Action Plan. At State level, two committees; the State Level Coordination and Monitoring Committee, and the State Level Steering Committee will oversee the progress of the Telanganaku Haritha Haram programme.
Revenues from Forest
Forest products in the State include timber, bamboo, firewood and charcoal, beedi leaves and miscellaneous. The income accrued from forestry sector in the State is Rs.148.28 crore in 2013-14, Rs.82.08 crore in 2014- 15 and Rs.71.33 Crore in 2015-16 (upto November 2015).
Reforestation Through Seedcopters
The Telangana government in partnership with Marut Drones, a city-based startup, is set to launch a drone-based afforestation project named 'Hara Bahara', under which seed balls will be dropped in barren and empty forest lands to turn them lush green abode of trees.
Fifty lakh trees will be planted in about 12,000 hectares of land in forests across the state under this project.
State IT and Industries ministry unveiled 'Seedcopter Drone' by Marut Drones and launched poster campaign for 'Hara Bahara'. Seedcopter, an aerial seeding solution for rapid and scalable reforestation, will bring community, science and technology together for an inclusive, sustainable and long-lasting solution.
This project uses drones to disperse seed balls over thin, barren and empty forest lands to turn them into lush green abode of trees. The process begins with a field survey and mapping of the terrain area to understand the ecosystem and demarcate the areas needing urgent attention. #KhabarLive #hydnews
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