The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Students will be involved in social forestry: Minister

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Students will be involved in social forestry: Minister

Special Correspondent

‘Forest encroachment will be thwarted'

Bio-fencing in forests to prevent wild animal threat
Steps to check the plunder of sandalwood trees

Thiruvananthapuram: Forest Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar has said that the government will take steps to ensure the involvement of students from Class 1 in social forestry programmes.

He was speaking after the State-level inauguration of the integrated afforestation programme at the Saraswathy Vidyalaya, Vattiyoorkavu, on Sunday. Mr. Ganesh Kumar said the Forest Department would provide facilities for children affiliated to nature clubs to visit and observe forests and understand the natural environment.

He said the government would not permit forests to be cleared or encroached upon. “At the same time, officials will not be allowed to harass tribal folk or farmers in the name of protecting forests.” He said the steps taken by former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.G. Ramachandran to restore the wetland at Muthumala were exemplary. “We will try to follow his example here” he said.

The Minister said forests would be provided with bio-fencing to prevent wild animals from straying into human territory. The fences would be erected with the help of Kudumbasree units and tribal people. The project would be submitted to the Central government for financial assistance, he said. Mr. Ganesh Kumar said honest officials would be appointed to check the plunder of sandalwood trees in the Marayur forests. Steps would be taken to keep all forest areas plastic-free. In the first phase, all buses to the eco tourism spot at Gavi would display boards highlighting the plastic menace. This would be followed by inspection of vehicles to detect plastics.

Presiding over the function, K. Muraleedharan, MLA, stressed the need to check environmental issues from running counter to development needs.

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