‘Green Mangalore’ Drive to Go in Full Swing

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR/MB)

• Forest Department to plant 10,000 more saplings

Mangalore, Jul 14: According to the forest department officials it has been decided that within the next two months about 10,000 saplings will be planted in Mangalore City Corporation limits. As of date they have already planted 3,000 saplings in various pockets of the city.

The general perception is that Mangalore city is fast losing its green cover. According to the figures given out by the district office last year, it clearly indicated that the green cover in the city had dropped to around 17 per cent. This was far below the healthy level of 33 per cent. The main reason for this has been the denudation of social forests in the city for construction of roads, buildings, commercial complexes and civic amenities. Greenery, however, is now restricted to a few areas in the city.

Terming this condition as undesirable state of affairs, the forest department officials opine that while a city has to develop but it should not be at the cost of its green cover. They believe that by planting 10,000 saplings this season, it would be possible to cover some areas under social forestry, but it still is not enough.

The forest department has also identified some common tree species found in the Western Ghats such as honge, mahagony, jack and wild jack, holae dasavala, matti and ramapatre which they feel are suitable for planting in the city. According to them “Green Mangalore” being a big mission, it will not be accomplished without the help of the local people, non-governmental organizations, youth clubs and managements of schools and educational institutions. And even the Mangalore City Corporation will have a major role to play in identifying areas that could be included in the “Green Mangalore” project.