The Hindu

• Saplings will be planted on 600 hectares of land 
• Nine Village Forest Committees formed
• Forest Department to plant endemic and fast-growing species
• Fruit-bearing varieties can be a source of income for villagers

 
Mangalore, Jun 3: The South West monsoon that has fully covered Dakshina Kannada in just four days after its onset has kindled hopes of faster regeneration of forests in the Western Ghats as well as in other forest areas in the district.

To supplement the natural process of regeneration, the Forest Department has started nine Village Forest Committees (VFCs) in the foothills of Western Ghats in three taluks, where saplings would be planted on about 600 hectares of land from this monsoon. The Forest Department is now scouting for the endemic and fast-growing species to plant.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Anita Arekal told The Hindu that the nine VFCs were formed in Pudubettu in Belthangady taluk, Veerakamba and Kuntapalke in Buntwal, Badaga Yekkaru in Mangalore, Belmane, Panja Dolpady in Puttur, Mairaja and Kalamogaru in Sullia taluk. In addition, the department had also formed self-help groups, which helped the community take up forest regeneration tasks. Each VFC had 40 to 50 families, she added.

Ms. Arekal expressed hope that forests would be regenerated in three to four years. It was natural that some greenery would be lost over the years owing to many reasons, but it could be regenerated with local and endemic species, she said. This time the department was looking at the Myristica species of trees of which one variety was "Rama Patre" tree, which had a large canopy. Wild mango was yet another species that was being promoted for forest regeneration. Shikkakai, gooseberries and some fuel wood species were also included, she added.