Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Call for people's cooperation in sandalwood conservation

Staff Reporter

Government initiates measures fto protect forests

CRUSADING FOR NATURE: The street play staged by the `Vaanambadikal,' Thekkady-based Eco-Development Committee troupe, as part of a `Save Sandalwood Tree' campaign in Adoor town on Sunday.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Forest Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, has said that the Government has initiated steps to conserve the sandalwood forests of Marayur.

Mr. Radhakrishnan was inaugurating a reception accorded to the

`Save Sandalwood Tree' awareness campaign, sponsored by the Forest Department and various socio-environmental organisations, in Adoor this afternoon.

He said that the vehicular campaign was part of the Government's initiative to create awareness among the public on the need to protect the sandalwood trees.

Mr. Radhakrishnan stressed the need to ensure effective forest conservation in different parts of the State. He said that the co-operation of the local residents as well as non-governmental organisations would give a boost to forest conservation.

Campaign

The rally, led by the environmentalist Peruvanthanam John, was accorded a rousing reception at various places in the district today.

The rally toured Adoor, Konni, Pathanamthitta and Kozhencherry today. Thomas P. Thomas of Kozhencherry St. Thomas College, Charles Nagaraj of the Thekkady Nature Foundation, Vadakkevila Sasi of the Youth Hostels' Association and N. Radhakrishna Pillai of the Forest Department addressed the gathering in different parts of the district today.

A 19-member team of `Vaanambadikal' belonging to the Kollam-Pattada Eco-Development Committee, Thekkady, who have been accompanying the rally performed street dramas, skits and magic shows at the meetings. The Pampa Parirakshana Samiti general secretary, N.K. Sukumaran Nair, who is also the organising committee chairman in the district, has called for action against the sandalwood thieves.

The Central Empowered Committee report of February 24 says that the Marayur forests had 1,86,594 sandalwood trees in 1987-88. The Forest Department records show that by 2004 the number of trees reduced to 58,251.

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