Over 1,54,358 hectares of forest area planted in Manipur
Imphal, May 30: Forest Department Manipur has taken up plantation over 154358 hectare of forest areas to increase the forest cover, to rehabilitate Jhum lands and meet the requirement of timber, fuelwood and fodder. The plantation includes 48523 hectare of fringe areas planted under the tiol Afforestation Programme (P) through decentralize mechanism of Joint Forest Magement (JFM). The total number of Joint Forest Magement Committee till date has risen to an impressive figure of 726.
The Department have been implementing several schemes and projects both under State Plan and Centrally Sponsored Schemes to meet the challenging task of afforestation, soil and water conservation, wildlife and biodiversity conservation, etc. to achieve sustaible development and utilization of the State’s Forests and associated tural resources.
Under tiol Bamboo Mission (NBM) 23724 hectare of forest and non-forest areas have been covered under Bamboo plantation. During the period of 12th Fince Commission Award (2004-05 to 2009-10) a total of 17250 hectare of plantation was carried out and under 13th Fince Commission Award, 39256 hectare of plantation has been taken up during the period (2010-2015). 18205 hectare of forest land has been brought under plantation during the last 15(fifteen) years.
In order to strengthen the infrastructure of Keibul Lamjao tiol Park (KLNP), one Range Office cum chowkidar quarter, one check post each at Keibul hill and Chingmei hill of KLNP have been constructed. For construction of Sangai Rescue Centre, 7.95 hectare land has been acquired at Keibul. The Department has also taken up all possible measures by organizing awareness programmes and patrolling with members of local clubs and police to protect the waterbirds visiting from different parts of the globe for feeding in the wetlands of Manipur.
The Forest Department has established Botanical Garden Complex, Arboretum at Langol Reserve Forest and Herbal Garden at Raj Bhavan. Tissue Culture laboratory at Mantripukhri has also been set up. In addition active initiatives are being made for setting up of a Manipur Forest Research Institute. Further two projects on “Production and testing of Banslochan” and : Micropopagation of some of the destructively harvested medicil plants of Manipur through Tissue Culture for their multiplication, field trial and conservation” have been approved by the tiol Medicil Plant Board.
In collaboration with the Green India Mission Directorate, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi, Forest Department, Manipur formulated a Perspective Plan and Annual Action Plan for 2015-16 and they have been approved by the Government of India. The Perspective Plan has a target to treat 42471 hectare forest land with a cost of 15730.16 lakh in eight years from 2015-16 to 2022-23. During 2015-16, 12700 hectare of forest land is targeted for treatment with an outlay of Rs. 2023.33 lakh. This was stated in a press release.
