Plan to share major forest produce also with dwellers

Pardeshi said the government would increase the new plantation goal from 3 crore trees to 11.3 crore. “The ultimate goal is to plant 100 crore trees,” he said.

The Indian Express had reported story of Ghati village in Gadchiroli that had refused operations by Forest Department in their community forest,saying even timber belongs to them since the minor forest produce grows on it.

“After much analysis,we have come to the conclusion that despite years of plantations and forest protection,area under thick forest hasn’t increased. Merely funds will not help increase forest cover because plantation suffers from cattle grazing,forest fires and repeated collection of fuel wood by villagers. Hence,local participation in forest plantation,ownership in forest by local people is key,” Pardeshi said. “That’s why 30 per cent of guards being selected this time are locals.”

He told a news conference later that plan were afoot to make villages near forts nestled in forests stakeholders in conservation. “The visitors will have to deal with villages that will have the right to collect fees and security deposit. The visitors will have to take local youths as guides like they do while visiting national parks and sanctuaries… Many mountaineering organisations have whole-heartedly supported the move,” he said.