Mehsana, Gujarat - Tree count up 13 lakh in five years

Mehsana is fast greening up, with an increase of 13 lakh trees over five years. All eyes are now on Ahmedabad district, where the tree count begins on April 15.

Officials in the forest department said the count will be interesting because of the rapid urban development in the region. Officials said this will be the first tree census after the industrialization in Sanand and nearby areas began.

Officials said the census has gradually begun and in at least five districts, it is almost complete. The count in Mehsana has been finalized. The number of trees in the district increased from 2.23 crore to 2.36 crore. This was an increase of about 6% in the past five years.

The social forest department also carried out a survey on the uses of wood and byproducts of trees such as gum or 'datun', in villagers and the value of this industry. Officers said the social forestry department recently began a survey of just rural areas, to find out the increase in tree cover there, over the last five years. Officials said figures of the five districts have been collated.

H S Singh additional principal chief conservator of forests said: "The survey is being taken up in all rural areas of the state. We have been able finalize data for Mehsana district and it was revealed that the number of trees in rural Mehsana increased from 2.36 crore to 2.23 crore."

Singh said a study is also being up taken up simultaneously. This study will identify the usage of wood and tree products in villages and will also establish the value of this industry for that village. This will help the department to convince other villagers to protect their trees, by citing the monetary and other benefits of protecting trees.

According to the study, in Mehsana, the wood industry was worth about Rs 523 crore. Singh said it has been revealed during the study that leaves were used as fodder, firewood, branches for timber among others. He further said that about 31% of the villagers still use 'datum' to clean their teeth. He said that was also a huge industry in the rural areas and many families earn their livelihood by selling just datuns.

A senior officer from Mehsana said that at least 60% of the villagers still use wood for fire wood. Despite having gas connections, many people were using firewood to heat water during Winter among others uses.

Source TOI