Chief Conservator of Forests (Anantapur circle) A. Bharath Kumar on Saturday said that the ongoing social forestry and afforestation schemes will only be successful if students take their participation seriously, with the aim of turning it into a mission.
Change in mindset
Addressing students and teachers at Government Residential School for Girls near Gangadhara, Nellore mandal headquarters, 15 km from here, Mr. Kumar said that there was a visible change in students’ mindset, particularly from the young age of five to 15, towards planting trees, and the message of the inevitability of having a green cover had penetrated their minds.
"Since the last couple of years, students have been coming forward to plant saplings of various varieties, both in school and college campuses, and also at their residential zones," he said.
He said that school and college managements, should encourage students to plant saplings. The CCF said that the forest department was ready to supply as many number of plants as possible to enthusiastic students.
"This should go on like a mission. Every student joining a school should be made to plant a sapling and he should be made to feel the responsibility for its healthy growth . As old batches leave institutions, new batches would arrive. In a decade, such an experiment would bring incredible results," the official said.
Divisional Forest Officer (Chittoor - Social Forestry) G. Srinivasulu said that for the year 2018-19, as many as 1.6 crore saplings would be planted in a phased manner, and 30% of the target was underway.
"In order to rope in more students, the forest department is conducting regular quizzes and competitions for students in all government schools and colleges, encouraging them to make efforts towards improving the green cover.
Later, the forest officials distributed prizes to students who took part in various competitions, including drawing, painting and elocution on social forestry themes. The officials also visited ZP High School at GD Nellore, and initiated campus plantation drive, involving students in a big way.
Forest Range Officers (FROs) from Tirupati, Madanapalle and Chittoor took part in the events.
