TEAM HERALD
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CANACONA: The Kankon Jangal Bachao Samiti (KJBS) has requested the forest department to stop chopping down bushes in the name of afforestation but to preserve the forest cover in a sustainable manner.
The KJBS on Friday submitted a memorandum to Canacona MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar and Dy Conservator of Forests (South) Ramesh Gauns Dessai, criticising the drive initiated by the forest department in the forests of Canacona.
Targeting department officials for failing to apply a proper mind to the so-called afforestation drive, the KJBS alleged that the department’s annual drive was virtually destroying the biodiversity in forest areas.
“While bushes and other trees are considered unwanted by the forest department, they are the life-support of micro-biodiversity and are also very important as fuel for local residents,” states the memorandum.
The forest department’s drive to plant new saplings and fencing of areas with barbed areas, besides digging long deep trenches, has also come in for sharp criticism.
“The metal fencing and the long deep trenches have been a cause of concern for wild animals, sometimes causing their deaths, besides restricting their freedom of movement,” stated the memorandum.
“The cutting of bushes will only destroy the habitat of creatures leading to their extinction. It further disturbs the food chain of dependant animals forcing them either to migrate or die of starvation.”
The samiti also stated that many local communities use these plants as a rich source of medicine.
