Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday asked the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) to dispose of the minor forest cases and avoid harassment to the people, particularly the traibal forest-dwellers.
Addressing the DFOs’ Conference, he said forest protection has always remained a big challenge for the forest officials. However, the compounding power of the DFOs has been enhanced which would facilitate quick disposal of forest cases and the consequent reduction in the number of court cases and avoidable harassment to the people.
On participatory forest management for protection of forests and wildlife and degraded forests, he said partnership between the department and forest communities depending on forests needs to be strengthened.
Expressing his satisfaction over the achievements both in physical and financial terms during the last year, Patnaik urged the DFOs to be focused much more on the “outcomes” rather than only over financial achievements. Stating that though the forest cover in the State has increased during the last decade, of which 15 per cent is very dense and about 43 per cent being moderately dense and 42 per cent are open forests, he urged the DFOs to improve the forests both in terms of quality and coverage.
Patnaik emphasised on planting of more indigenous species to conserve the rich biodiversity of the State in conformity with the National Mission for Green India (GIM) launched by the Prime Minister in June 2008 under Climate Change Action Plan. “There is need for a fundamental shift in the mindset for taking a holistic view of greening landscape with a clear focus on biodiversity, ecosystems restoration and habitat diversity,” he said. He said that much more remains to be done in the initiative to protect wildlife. “Man-elephant conflict still remains a matter of great concern. Death of elephants due to electrocution has to come down through joint effort of Forest and Energy Departments,” he said and added that wildlife crimes should be dealt with promptly and firmly. The Chief Minister asked the DFOs to strictly ensure that 10 per cent of trees felled due to setting upof industries should be raised and 33 per cent of the plant sites should be planted with trees by the concerned plants.
He also stressed on landscaping of the urban areas by filling of tree cover in vacant lands and announced that during the current financial year six towns have been brought under the urban area plantation pogramme.
