Karnataka - Madikeri   

`Community participation essential to save forests'

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, DEC. 30. Community participation, backed by Government support, is essential to save forests in Kodagu district, said Taumey Mahendrappa, soil scientist from Canada.

Mr. Mahendrappa was addressing a gathering on Thursday at the Coorg Wildlife Society Hall here.

He was referring to the objectives of the Kodagu Model Forest Trust that has been established at the College of Forestry at Ponnampet in Kodagu some time ago.

Plantations

Forests in Kodagu were not the same when he left Kodagu 24 years ago. Roads, coffee plantations have been developed. Bringing back forests in Kodagu to their past glory isthe main goal of the trust, he said.

Canada is credited with presenting a "model forest'' concept and "principles of forest" to the world at the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, which has been taken well by many countries.

Earlier, the book, Tragedy of Commons, published in the Sixties has alerted the world to the impending ill effects of growing population and shrinking forest cover.

Denudation of forest

The reports published by the former Prime Minister of Norway, Brundtland, called Brundtland Commission, on the denudation of forest brought to light the loss of forest cover and degradation of environment, Dr. Mahendrappa said.

About the need to conserve biodiversity, he said tree roots are involved in a host of programmes below the ground, thanks to the activities of various bacteria and fungi.

A proper upkeep of air and surface water will ensure that everything is all right below the surface.

About "ecological integrity" being another mission of the trust, Dr. Mahendrappa said people should count themselves as part of the environment.

Forest resources should be utilised judiciously.

He appealed to the people of Kodagu to join the trust in preserving the forests.

C.G. Kushalappa, Associate Professor, College of Forestry; and Col. C.P.Muthanna (Retd.), Coorg Wildlife Society president, spoke.

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