Fillip for Social forestry project

 
Forest Minister Benoy Viswom said here on Thursday that the government would ensure public participation to extend its social forestry programme to all parts of the State. He was speaking after inaugurating the second phase of the Harithatheeram project at Thumba. The Minister said 55 lakh saplings were planted over the last two years. " As many as 1.25 lakh man days have been created under the Harithatheeram  project", he said. M.A.Wahid, MLA, presided over the function. The project involves the planting of saplings along the vulnerable stretches of the coastline and in farmlands and homesteads. The participatory project will be managed by the Theera Samrakshana Vanavalkarana Samithi s(Coastal protection and afforestation committees) comprising representatives of families living with in 200 metres of the shoreline. Apart from the creation of a green barrier against tidal surge and strong wave action, the scheme envisages rehabilitation, planting and supply of saplings and awareness campaigns. The Fisheries Department is supporting the project.  The project had also earmarked funds for the protection and maintenance of mangrove forests. The Forest Department had identified 29.5 hectacres of land in Thiruvananthapuram district for the project. An official survey has found that some parts of the Kottukal , Kadhinamkulam, CHirayinkeezh, Anchuthengu, Vettoor and the city wards of Panathura, Poonthura, Beemapally, Manikyavilakam,Shanghumughom, Valiathura, Kannanthura, Pallithura and Vettukad were ideal for planting trees. The species that are being supplied include bamboo, mangroves, almond, casuarinas, 'punna' and 'poovarasu'. The project will conclude in  December 2009.

The Hindu, 30th August 2008