Three years since order banning invasive plants including Eucalyptus and Acacia; Forest Department not in favour of substitutes for Eucalyptus 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite three years after issuing an order banning invasive plants including Eucalyptus and Acacia, which are harmful to the environment, the forest department is slow in planting replacement plants.

The forest department officials say that the obstacle is not finding the trees that can be used for pulp wood instead of Eucalyptus and Acacia trees and not producing enough saplings.

KFDC's contention is that the company would not be able to survive on a commercial basis if the proposed trees are produced instead of Eucalyptus. Although bamboo and reed bamboo are taken for pulp, these are not obtained in sufficient quantity. It is also said that the cost of industrial production of such trees is high.

Trees prescribed in the policy

The Forest Policy 2021 states that trees should be planted according to the characteristics of each region for the restoration of natural forests.

Red soil, laterite region: Xylia xylocarpa, Terminalia elliptica, Mango, Jackfruit, Java Plum, Strychnine, Cluster fig, Banyan

Alluvium-filled seashore: Indian tulip, Gulmohar, Coconut, Pergularia, Garcinia cambogia

River banks: Bamboo, reed bamboo, Thymelaeaceae, Venkata, Aporosa cardiosperma, Calophyllum inophyllum, Kara, Mombins, Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Kilimaram, Cluster fig, Schleichera, Homonoia riparia

Plains: Ashoka, Neem, Garcinia cambogia, Biancaea sappan, Bauhinia acuminata, Golden shower, Bamboo, Guava, wild jack, Flacourtia montana, Ebony, talipot palm, Killinank

Waterlogged lowlands: Pride of India, Arjun, Millettia pinnata, bishop wood, Java Plum, false white teak, Burflower

High altitude region: Terminalia anogeissiana, Dalbergia latifolia, Persea macrantha, Hydnocarpus pentandrus, Cinnamomum malabatrum, Choolapoovam, Pushipazham, Vateria macrocarpa, Gluta travancorica, Prioria pinnata, Indian frankincense, Nageia wallichiana, Kondappana

Eucalyptus: Permission sought after Minister's meeting

According to reports, Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) sought permission to plant Eucalyptus against the forest policy after a high-level meeting chaired by Minister AK Saseendran. The meeting was scheduled for September 19, 2023 to discuss the financial crisis of KFDC. Additional Chief Secretary KR Jyotilal and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests D Jayaprasad were also present in the meeting.

With this, the argument of the forest department that KFDC MD Georgi P. Mathachan sought permission to plant Eucalyptus without the knowledge of the minister and the authorities has been dispelled.