Authorities in Prayagraj have launched an intensive plantation marketing campaign to extend the district’s inexperienced cowl. Beginning July 1, over 73.15 lakh saplings will likely be planted throughout city and rural areas underneath a coordinated effort involving 24 authorities departments.
Saplings in forest division nursery in Prayagraj. (Sourced)
District forest officer (DFO) Arvind Kumar, who can also be the nodal officer of the marketing campaign, shared that the agricultural growth division alone has been assigned a goal of 29.87 lakh saplings, adopted by the forest division with 22.45 lakh.
“All departments have been made aware of their roles, and this will be implemented like a ‘festival’ with active public participation,” the DFO stated.
Officers say the plantation drives over current years are producing measurable outcomes. A 27.06 sq. kilometre enhance in greenery has been recorded in each city and rural areas of Prayagraj.
In response to knowledge from the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, greenery within the district has elevated by 2.32% in 2017, 2.36% in 2019 and a pair of.85% in 2021. In 2023, a rise of three.30% has been recorded in it, the official stated.
In one other encouraging signal, 95% of the saplings planted by the forest division in 2023 have survived, the official added.
At the moment, Uttar Pradesh has 15,045.80 sq km of inexperienced space, comprising 6.24% of the entire forest cowl of the nation.
Along with growing tree cowl, the marketing campaign can also be specializing in boosting native biodiversity. Forest officers confirmed that the plantation drive will prioritise native species equivalent to neem, peepal, banyan, arjun, amla, and tamarind, as they’re higher tailored to native soil and local weather, and assist native wildlife.
“These species provide food and shelter for a range of organisms—birds, insects, butterflies, and small animals. Planting a variety of fruit-bearing, flowering, and leafy trees will help attract and support diverse forms of life,” a forest division official stated.