Importance of trees for sustenance of life in the earth has increased manifold in view of the changing scenario where population is rising rapidly and the forest cover decreasing drastically. Hence, plantation activities should be taken up as a people’s movement everywhere.
Noted persons opined this at the 68th Van Mahotsav programme organised jointly by the Orissa Environmental Society and the Rajdhani Engineering College here on Friday.
“While 31.8 per cent of the Earth’s land area was under forest coverage by the year 1990, the per cent of forest coverage area came down to 30.8 per cent in 2015. Minimum of 33 per cent area should be covered under forests for adequate oxygen. When it is expected that the population of the world would touch 930-crore mark by the year 2050, we must undertake plantation activities as a people’s movement,” said speakers.
They stressed on taking care of saplings till they grow into big trees.
OES Dr president Sundar Narayan Patra presided over the programme. Among others, college Principal Prof Bimal Sarangi, OES secretary Dr Jayakrushna Panigrahi, Deputy Forest Conservator Dr Akhaya Kumar Patnaik spoke.