PANJIM: The State government on Wednesday informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that 56,253 trees are covered under the geo-enabled tree census data, as on April 22, as 130 teams across 12 talukas of North and South Goa have been tasked with the job.
In a report filed in this regard each tree has been tagged with a unique ID along with attributes like latitude, longitude, botanical name, common name, local name, height, girth, condition, ownership and location. The government stated that a specialised agency for tree census will be appointed expeditiously with the court hearing a public interest litigation filed by NGO Living Heritage Foundation seeking revival of the Tree Authorities in both the districts.
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The court had disposed off a petition in July 2021 by directing the State to implement the various mandates prescribed under the Goa, Daman, and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984 (Trees Act). The court further directed the State to file their compliance reports from time to time.
“It was decided that the Forest Department shall start tree census exercise in all 12 talukas in Goa till such time an agency is appointed to take over the tree census work,” said a report filed by the member secretaries of south and north Goa tree authority states.
