Various organisations conducted awareness programmes in the city to mark World Forestry Day on Wednesday on this year’s theme ‘Forests and Sustainable Cities’.
Holistic approach
Members of the India Youth For Society (IYFS) wrote to the district administration on the effects of rapid urbanisation on social forestry and the need for a holistic approach in city planning to work towards the concept of ‘Sustainable Cities’.
City and district-wise data collection of trees, geo-tagging and numbering of plants in each street, colony, sector and road, mangroves protection and awareness and enforcement of WALTA (Water, Land and Trees Act) Act, AP, 2002 and plantations of native variety of trees rather than decorative exotic species were some of the measures recommended by Y Appala Reddy, vice president of IYFS.
The letter further said the Urban Local Body (ULB) should have right on its property and strict instructions should be given to the public against felling of trees. If anyone requires to fell a tree, the individual should apply in writing to the designated officer for permission, Mr Reddy added.
Awareness camp at zoo
The management of Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in the city organised an awareness camp for visitors of the zoo on the occasion to highlight the importance of forests.
Zoo curator B. Vijaya Kumar explained about this year’s theme and spoke on the importance forest catchments for water in reservoirs, which in turn caters to the drinking water needs of city dwellers.
