Special plan to boost green cover in 16 arid districts

The Forest Department would come up with a special plan to increase forest cover in 16 districts that are currently categorised as arid areas with poor green cover.

Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre, who held a meeting with senior officials of the department on Friday, noted that Karnataka is short of the stipulated green cover at many levels.

“Against the stipulation that 33% of the geographical area should have green cover, Karnataka has just about 20%. However, some districts have just 1% of the green cover area,” he told DH.

According to the department, Vijayapura, Raichur and Koppal are the top three arid districts with low green cover. Yadgir, Ballari, Bidar and Kalaburagi also suffer due to lack of forests.

Under the scheme, the territorial and social forestry wings will come together to identify areas where planting can be taken up. Priority will be given to public spaces like roadside planting. Nurseries of the department will raise local saplings.

The minister told the officials to plant mature saplings and geo-tag them to ensure better care and survival rate.

“We are facing the challenges of climate change and global warming. The department needs to take up this responsibility to provide better living conditions for future generations,” he said.