Page 50 - 31JAN2020E3
P. 50
Himachal schemes to
increase green cover
bring positive results!
he new schemes launched rently about two third of the State’s ge-
by the Forest Department ographical area of about 55,673 square
of Himachal Pradesh Gov- kms is under forest cover. However,
ernment have not only in- increased economic activity in the past
T creased the green cover but decade has created substantial demand
have also been able to provide liveli- for forest produce and resultantly for-
hood to local dwellers. Official sources est land has come under severe pres-
told that special plantation campaigns sure from industry and residential
are being carried out to increase the Extensive publicity campaign needs. The State aims to increase the
green cover of the state. During year is being conducted in areas area under cover to at least 50 per cent.
2018, 88,53,532 saplings were planted sensitive to forest fire and Sources informed that for the first
on 9785 hectares of forest land in the time in the state, extensive publicity
hill State. people are being made aware campaign is being conducted in areas
In 2019, 65,34,217 saplings were to save forests from fire sensitive to forest fire and people are
planted on about 7499 hectares of for- being made aware to save forests from
est land under the special plantation by various means, reports fire by various means. A new manual
campaign in Himachal Pradesh. Cur- charanjit ahuja has been created for forest fire preven-
50