From rxpgnews.com
Forest and tree cover in India is very poor: minister
By IANS,
Mar 21, 2007 - 8:31:07 PM
New Delhi, March 21 - India has vegetation cover of only 23.68 percent of land as against a required 33 percent and there is a need to plant trees in additional 31.5 million hectares, Minister of State for Environment and Forest N.N. Meena said Wednesday.
While celebrating the World Forestry Day here Wednesday, Meena said: 'We are aware, the national goal as per the national forest policy is to bring one-third of the country's land area under forest and tree cover. There is a need for bringing additional 31.5 million hectares under forest and tree cover.'
'It's a herculean task. Since there is a limited scope for increase in forest cover within recorded forest area, it's imperative to involve the public in tree planting outside these areas,' the minister said.
He asserted that the joint forest management scheme of his ministry would help in this endeavour, as community participation is the key to the initiative.
'Communities at the village, block and district levels have been roped in to both safeguard the existing forest cover and expand it by planting trees,' Meena said.
Highlighting the pressure on forest, the minister said that it - would continue to increase vis-a-vis the rising population.
'Increasing population and economic growth means more people will be demanding more things from a fewer forests. It seems certain that plantation and trees outside forest will take on an increasing role in meeting these demands,' he added.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of Environment and Forests A. Raja said empowering people, particularly assigning the ownership of minor forest produce for the purpose of access, processing and trade would definitely enhance their livelihood.
'It would be a milestone in reducing the poverty of the people living in and around forests,' the senior minister added.
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