Even as severe cyclonic storm Fani has damaged millions of trees in the State, it is high time we thought of cyclone-resilient trees as cyclones are likely to be more frequent in the near future so far as the current scenario of global warming and Odisha’s vulnerability to climate change is concerned, said eminent environmentalist Professor Radhamohan.
He was addressing a consultation programme on “Restoration of Greenery post Fani” attended by senior officials of Forest Department, Directorate of Horticulture, Coconut Development Board and Cashew Research Station, environmentalists and civil society representatives to prepare a Green Road Map for the State. The consultation was organised by the Civil Society Responds to FANI (CSRF), a group of civil society organisations and the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD).
He suggested that cyclone-resilient trees like neem, Patali, Saptaparni, Pesta Badam, Arjuna, Jamun, Kusum, Ou, Sunari, tamarind, Acacia Mangium, Chironjee, Champa and Kanchana should be considered for avenue plantation. Besides, species like cashew, casurina, acacia auriculiformis, sissoo, bamboo and American Silk Cotton can be cosidered for commercial plantation. He also urged the Government to think about regeneration of damaged trees and replantation of uprooted trees.
Massive plantation through a convergence mode is the need of the hour to compensate the green loss, said Jagadananda, Founder and Mentor of CYSD. This requires collective action from the Government, civil society organisations, community-based organizations and corporates.
He lamented that the trees which survived the 1999 Super Cyclone were damaged by Fani. He also shed light on preparation of bio-manure from plant residue, setting up of decentralised nursery and mass plantation drives. Besides, reviving livelihood of affected people who suffered crop loss and other losses should be the priority, he added.
Speaking on the roadmap of restoration by the Government, Dr Sandeep Tripathy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) said, “Plantation drive will be undertaken on around bout 6,000 hectares of land in the next 5 years. The area includes coastal belt, forest land and road sides. Around 50 lakh seedlings will be distributed free of cost and around 25 lakh seedlings out of this will be planted in urban areas.
He proposed for plantation of casuarina trees that are disaster resilient and protect environment by reducing wind velocity.
Environmentalist Sabarmatee urged the people of affected areas not to burn the fallen trees and leaves. Former Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra focused on initiatives for revival and transplantation of damaged plants. He suggested that funds from CAMPA can be mobilized for the purpose.
Other speakers raised serious concerns over the colossal loss of green cover. They maintained that the destructive gale uprooted at least 20 lakh trees in the capital city alone while Puri, Khurda and Cuttack districts have been badly affected by the storm. More than 50 percent trees have been uprooted in Balukhanda sanctuary of Puri coast alone.
Further, horticulture has also been badly affected in areas like Satapada, Krushnaprasad, Brahmagiri, Gop, Satyabadi, Nimapara, Pipili and several blocks of Puri district and in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Coconut and cashew plants, major source of livelihoods in coastal region, are also severely damaged, they told.
The consultation was attended by Government officials, civil society leaders, panchayat representatives from the affected areas, besides official of National Service Scheme and National Youth Project.