Forest department to plant 1.15 crore seedlings in Karnataka including 1.22 lakh in Mysuru division

Mysuru: Even as the World Environment Day was observed on June 5, in order to further improve the green cover amid the challenge of climate change, Karnataka plans to plant 1,15,34,097 seedlings for 2025-26, including 1,22,430 seedlings in Mysuru territorial division.

DCF Mysuru Territorial division K N Basavaraju informed this.

In Mysuru range, they are planting 1,980 seedlings at ITC Factory to Lingadevaru Koppalu Junction and 11,000 seedlings at Mavanahalli, Chillanahalli Block 1.

In the greening urban range (GUA) of Mysuru city, they are planting 3,960 seedlings at BEML Nagar (Chamundeswari Layout, J P Nagar and Sapathrushinagara A and B Block (Halalu).

In T Narsipura range, they are planting 11,000 seedlings in S Doddapura deemed forest area; 7750 seedlings in Vatalu; 11000 seedlings in Thumbla; 16740 seedlings in Adibettahalli.

In the Sargur range, they are cultivating 11,000 seedlings in Halemanchalli, Manuganahalli and Halemanchalli.

In the Nanjangud range, they are planting 48,000 seedlings in Hulimavugudda and Chikkaiahana Chatra Hobli and Dasanuru.

Mysuru territorial division has raised 1,35,760 seedlings of more than 36 species for this purpose.

Those include Ala (Banyan tree), Antavala (Soapnut tree), Arali (Peepal tree), Atthi (Cluster fig tree), Banni (Khejri tree), Basari (Ficus virens), Basavanapada (Orchid tree), Beete (Rosewood), Bela (bael tree), Bettada Nalli (Amla tree), Bevu (Neem tree), Bidiru (Bamboo tree), Buguri (Indian tulip tree), Gaali (Australian pine), Geru (Cashew tree), Goni (Fig tree), Holemati (Arjuna tree), Honge (Indian beech tree), Honne (Indian kino tree), Hunase (Tamarind tree), Jammu Nerale (Jamun tree), Kadu Badam (Indian almond tree), Mahogany, Matti (Indian Laurel), Rakthachandana (Sandal wood), Seemetangadi(Cassod tree), Shivane (Beechwood tree), Shimaruba (Bitter wood), Taare (Terminalia bellirica), Tapasi (Sterculia urens), Tega (Teak tree) and others.

According to officials of the forest department, in the State they planted 5,93,35,142 seedlings in 2023-24; 3,85,25,387 seedlings in 2024-25.

As per the tree audit done by the department their survival rate is about 76.19 per cent. Among seedlings planted in 2024-25, the plantation condition of 45.34 per cent of seedlings is excellent; 12.24 per cent is very good, 20.48 per cent is good, 12.99 per cent is average, 8.95 per cent is poor. They maintain the seedlings for three to five years.

As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 done by Forest survey of India, while the geographical area of Karnataka is 1,91,791 sq km, the green cover has increased by 31.40 per cent (1,859.15 sq km) from 5,920 sq km in 2013 to 7,779 sq km in 2024.

Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre recently said that the green cover in the State has increased by about one percent since last year.

Green cover is 21 per cent in the State while it should be 33 per cent to maintain ecological balance, as per forest policy. Green cover in Mysuru is 13 per cent.