UP to plant 6 crore saplings this year

The Times Of India , Friday, July 01, 2011
Correspondent : TNN
LUCKNOW: The forest department will start its plantation exercise in the state from Friday by planting trees at Dewa Road. The state will get close to six crore saplings this year including some 3.5 crore for the 74 divisions and 2.5 crore for Bundelkhand and Vindhyachal. The Van Mahotsav, which begins on July 1 will formally start the plantation exercise.

On the other hand, the forest department might work on the new conservation strategies for sarus population in the state. The department will hold a workshop to deliberate on the conservation of the state bird soon. "It was to be held on Thursday, but has been postponed," said sources. The number of sarus, however, is growing in UP. The state might be sheltering 12,246 sarus crane, justifying its status of being the biggest sarus-supporting state in the country. Seven divisions of UP forests have been found sheltering more than 500 sarus cranes.

The figures of the first ever sarus count show concentration of sarus population in all districts, protected areas and sanctuaries of UP. Mainpuri had reported maximum sightings (2,120) followed by Etawah (1,217) and Auraiya (895), Kanshiram Nagar (807), Etah (599), Ramabai Nagar (580) and Sohagibarwa wildlife sanctuary (503). So far, the counting of sarus was done either in areas having abundant populations or there were only random estimation.

The figures were found higher than previous estimations. In 1999; 1,019 cranes were counted in 20 districts with abundant population. Similarly in 2000; 1,398 sarus were counted in same set of districts. While, in 2008 there was a rapid estimation and 7,155 sarus cranes were counted. At least 21 forest divisions, including Dudhwa national park were found with zero population of sarus. However, the count in the last one year has gone up or down is to be seen. The workshop might focus on it.

Sarus is categorised as vulnerable on International Union for Conservation of Nature's ( IUCN) Red List. There are no exact estimates available for its population in the country. However, UP is known to be the home to maximum number of cranes. After UP, Gujarat and Rajasthan also have a noticeable population of the bird. The protected areas of UP house only 5% crane The remaining 95% are outside protected areas. It is this population, which needs protection and conservation.

The major threat to cranes is poaching and destruction of their eggs and juveniles. However, UP on account of being the home to maximum cranes has already launched 'sarus crane research matrix' in March last year. The matrix is an organised and category-wise description of research related activities, which will be undertaken all through the programme. The matrix has been planned under sarus conservation and recovery plan of the Sarus Protection Society (SPS) set up by the Uttar Pradesh forest department.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/UP-to-plant-6-crore-saplings-this-year/articleshow/9057499.cms
 


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