Some other points include using CSR funds for forests, research, laying down standard operating procedures (SOPs), bringing in new plant varieties and water conservation.
The state forest department has drawn up a list of 99 points that officials have been told to work on. These include building an artificial breeding centre for peacocks, creating employment through the use of forest resources, developing tourism in forest areas and using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for conservation. These programmes, their feasibility and the time-lines for their implementation will be looked at on a regular basis by a team of officials.
"We have drawn up a list of 99 points," finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is also the state's forest minister, told dna. He added that these included the development of an artificial breeding centre for India's national bird, focusing on generating employment through the use of forest resources and even designating actors, celebrities and business tycoons as forest guests on the lines of state guests.
These forest guests will be invited to visit the Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve, the oldest national park in the state. The reserve has the highest number of tigers in Maharashtra and the department expects that these visits would boost tourism and funding.
"We are focusing on creating livelihoods through the forest department. After agriculture, forests can be the second-highest generators of employment," Mungantiwar said, adding that the development of medicinal forest produce, boosting tourism in forested areas and tree plantation were also part of this 99-point programme.
Some other points include using CSR funds for forests, research, laying down standard operating procedures (SOPs), bringing in new plant varieties and water conservation.
"The officials will examine if each point is feasible and then decide a model on the basis of which the plan will be implemented, and those who take on the responsibility will have to lay down a time-table and make it successful," Mungantiwar said.
Forested areas take up the second-highest amount of land in Maharshtra after agricultural fields. According to the India State of Forest Report, 2015 published by the Forest Survey of India, India's recorded forest area (RFA) covers 23.26% of the 32,87,263sqkm geographical area. The report said that Maharashtra has RFA of 20.01% of the total geographical area (61,579sqkm of 3,07,713sqkm). The National Forest Policy, 1988 has set a target of 33%.
Maharashtra has six national parks, 47 wildlife sanctuaries and four conservation reserves with a tiger population of around 190 in 2014, up from 169 in 2010. The state government also plans to develop Tadoba-Andhari, Mumbai's Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Nagpur's Gorewada Zoo on the lines of international forest tourism destinations such as Kenya's Masai Mara.
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