Coconut cannot be State tree: Rajendra Kerkar

Team Herald

PANJIM: Environmentalist and member of the National Wildlife Board (NWB), Rajendra Kerkar, has strongly objected to BJP-led coalition government’s decision to declare Coconut as State Tree, stating that ‘Matti – the Crocodile Bark Tree’ – an endogenous forest species is already recognised as State Tree and there should be no change.

The Matti tree, declared in 1975 as State Tree, is found to be endemic to the Western Ghats. It is a hard wood tree, usually called as ‘Matti Mara’ by in Goa. The tree has a bark which resembles the skin of a crocodile and hence it is also called crocodile tree.

“The idea behind declaring Matti as State tree was that the species resembles the forest. The then government was of the considered view that forests should be given the priority and an indigenous species should be a State Tree and not a cultivated species like coconut,” Kerkar told Herald. 

“Matti represents the forests of Goa and it is found in the protected areas of the State,” he said adding, “One of the unique features of the tree is that it is capable of storing water.” 

Kerkar said that coconut, being a cultivated species cannot be declared as State Tree but can be given necessary protection under the Tree Preservation Act. “I strongly object to government’s decision to recognise coconut as State Tree. The move does not ensure protection to it, as it is grown in large number and found everywhere,” he explained. 

The NWB member said the government should carry out necessary amendments to the Tree Preservation Act, which was earlier amended to declassify the tree as a grass. He said that coconut trees are normally cut for mega projects like industries or hotels, which needs to be restricted.

Following a demand from the coalition partner Goa Forward Party, the government, in its Common Minimum Programme (CMP) announced that coconut would be made the State tree. 

The Matti tree grows up to 30 m high has a trunk of 1 metre diameter. As far as the fruit is concerned, it is ovoid in shape having a length of 3 cm along with 5 wings which cannot extend beyond the apex of the fruit. Its bark is found to be resistant to fire.