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ShareAhmedabad, Ahmedabad: At a time when forests are rapidly disappearing from the industrialised regions of the country, Gujarat forest cover seems to be impressing central agencies. For three years in a row, foresters from the state have bagged the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra (IPVM) Awards, instituted to recognise pioneering contribution in the field of afforestation and wasteland development.
The latest award for 2008 was announced last week. Range forest officer, Khambat, PH Rohit received the recognition for mangrove plantation on the shores of Gulf of Khambat.
Rajkot's assistant conservator of forest, social forestry division, BB Limbasia received the award for 2007 for beautification of eight municipalities of Rajkot district by greening them. The award for 2006 went to Junagadh district's ACF, social forestry.
Cash prize of Rs2.5 lakh along with medallion and citation for every award, which are given on the basis of innovative efforts and outstanding work in afforestation, with special reference to wastelands development and involvement of the people.
Principal chief conservator of forest, Pradeep Khanna, who is elated receiving the award three years in a row, said that is quite a feat. "The area in Khambat is very remote and difficult to access. One has to walk around 6-8 km to just reach the site. Due to high tides, the area is accessible for just 6-7 days of the month and even on these days effective time available is 5-6 hrs," he said.
According to information given by the forest department, mangrove afforestation work in Gulf of Khambat region was initiated only five years ago. There is no recent history of mangroves in the region. An area of 4,010 ha has been planted with Avicinia Marina between 2006-08. Up to 63 lakhs of seedlings have been planted. The striking part is that the activity involved villagers, and the survival rate is close to 100%. Around 90,000 man days of work was generated in last three years.
In Rajkot, a total of one lakh seedlings, covering an area of 458.41 hectares, were planted on common property lands like pavements and road side; strip plantation and public utility plots; and block plantations. Due to the region's propensity to semi-arid climatic condition, the plantations were raised in extremely adverse conditions and under very heavy biotic pressure from both, human as well as cattle. The plantation in urban area by forest department was touted to be a new concept and a challenging job.
