The seeds of a mahogany ( Swietenia macrophylla ) tree spiralling to the ground in the characteristic “helicopter” fashion sowed the germ of an idea in the mind of a Bengalurean. Since then, S.R.N. Murthy, an advocate in the High Court of Karnataka, has made it his mission to popularise the tree species. He can be seen collecting mahogany seeds across the city.
Besides a host of other benefits, the tree, he found, has high commercial value. The tree can be harvested, and, depending on the space, can be sold for Rs. 10,000 or Rs. 20,000 after five or 10 years respectively.
As the tree provides shade, grows fast, counters soil erosion, does not spoil asphalted roads and is used for making furniture (and guitars), he thought it could be promoted. A discussion with the Department of Forests revealed it did not have enough mahogany seeds. To “bridge this gap”, Mr. Murthy started collecting mahogany seeds and giving away its saplings.
In the last decade, he gave away eight lakh saplings in several districts of the State. The saplings were given away to people in villages in Sringeri through arecanut growers’ association, to nurseries of the Department of Forests in Koppa, Chikkamagalur, Hariharpura, Kaggalipura, Tumakuru, and Ramanagaram, and in Bengaluru to nurseries in Bangalore University and in Hulimavu.
Over the past two years alone, he collected two lakh mahogany seeds with the help of botany students of R.V. Women’s College. The saplings were given away for social forestry and afforestation projects of schools and colleges.
Mr. Murthy said it was a pity that mahogany seeds were being imported from Southeast Asian countries, Sri Lanka and Africa. By the time the seeds reach here, they become old and only 30 per cent of them germinate. But 70 per cent of the seeds collected in Bengaluru germinate, he said.
Deputy Conservator of Forests, Lake Development Authority, B. Venkatesh said the department had been raising mahogany seedlings on a large scale for social forestry for the past 20 years.
“Mr. Murthy has been collecting the seeds and giving away the saplings, which is good for biodiversity. The same can be done for many other trees,” he said.
On May 10, Mr. Murthy will begin his walk from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and distribute mahogany seeds along the way to popularise the tree species.
