The forest cover in Telangana State is currently 25 per cent, which is higher than the national average of 23 per cent, said Director General Centre for Forest and Natural Resource Management Studies (CEFNARM) K.P.Srivasuki here on Thursday.
Speaking to media persons Mr.Srivasuki said that the State Government was working towards achieving the national goal of having a forest cover of one-third of the land area and has taken up massive plantation initiative.
Also, while the Forest Department looked at having medicinal plants across the State at an estimated cost of Rs.16 crore, the medicinal plants board too has decided to involve bodies such as the GHMC, the HMWSSB and the HMDA for development of these plants nurseries, he said.
Chairman-MD Pragati Group G.B.K.Rao said that their Pragati Biodiversity Knowledge Park was developed over 2,500 acres in the last two decades and wished to share the knowledge with residential welfare associations in the city.
An urban forestry campaign would be launched on March 22 at Methodist Colony Welfare Association with herbal plantation and development of rain water harvesting pits in association with the residents’ welfare association. The United Resident Welfare Association vice-president, Shiv Karan, suggested developing a colony wise bio-diversity index.
