The Hindu : Kerala / Kozhikode News : One lakh saplings to be planted in Kozhikode

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 13, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kozhikode

One lakh saplings to be planted in Kozhikode

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: More than one lakh saplings of indigenous trees have been raised by the Forest Department for planting in Kozhikode district during the monsoon.

M. Murali, Deputy Conservator, Social Forestry, says that apart from these, more than 50,000 casurina seedlings will be planted in coastal areas as a guard against sea erosion.

The department will enlist the support of the public, especially students, for planting the saplings.

The cooperation of educational authorities, including the Deputy Director of Education and heads of institutions, is being solicited for the programme. Funds for the initiative will be sought from business and trade establishments who will be enlisted as sponsors. ``For instance, 17 acres [6.8 hectares] of land of the Naduvannur Powerloom Society is available for planting the saplings. Land is also available in the ESI Hospital compound at Mavoor, besides near the Light House at Payyoli," Mr. Murali says. But funds are needed to begin planting.

The Social Forestry Wing is in the process of coordinating the planting programme and enlisting the support of the public. For details, dial 0495-2416900 on working days.

`Tree guardian'

The wing has launched the Tree guardian-2005 programme in schools this year. The students of standards eight and nine will be involved in the initiative. Each student will plant a sapling and take care of it. He will entrust its care to his junior when he leaves school. This is envisaged as a way of creating a relationship between students and Nature, besides channelling the energies of children for worthwhile causes.

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