03-06-2025
Social forestry wing to halt tree saplings distribution this year as govt. cuts fund
A green tradition cut short.
On June 5 every year, the heart-warming sight of schoolchildren proudly carrying saplings back home – gifted by the Forest department's social forestry wing on World Environment Day – has come to be a renowned tradition. However, this year, the project will be shelved owing to the denial of funding for the initiative.
According to sources, the social forestry wing has been distributing tree saplings on Environment Day to schools and other institutions, aiming to encourage green cover. But for the first time this year, the government didn't allot fund for the project, resulting in its suspension.
The social forestry wing has distributed almost 20 lakh saplings across the State over the years. According to officials, last year over 60,000 trees were distributed in Idukki alone.
'The prices are ₹23 for small saplings and ₹55 for big saplings. Guava, gooseberry, pomegranate, rambutan, teak, Dalbergia latifolia (rosewood), and sandal saplings are distributed free of cost. But this year, there is no such free tree sapling distribution. Recently, the social forestry wing produced fruit tree saplings and received wide acceptance,' said an official.
According to officials, the wing has already produced nearly 3 lakh fruit and tree saplings for the sale this year. 'The tree saplings cannot be distributed free of cost for students or other institutions without a special order from the government,' said officials.
Meanwhile, Forest department officials reveal that the Chief Minister had allotted ₹5.60 crore for producing nearly one crore tree saplings by November this year and will distribute them the same month. The project will be implemented through the Haritha Keralam Mission. The Forest department has already started initiatives for producing 20 lakh tree saplings for the special project, said officials.
