Goverment planning to expand forest cover

BANGALORE:  With a major focus on afforestation and increase in forest cover, the state forest department is launching a new regional forest policy which will be unveiled on June 5, to mark the World Environment Day.Speaking to Express, Minister for Forest, C H Vijayashankar said, "the policy is being drafted and we hope to get it ready within a few days. We are planning to rejuvenate not just the existing forest areas but to also increase greenery in deforested land."Stating about the major part of the new policy he said, "When we bifurcate the total area in the state, at present only 20 percent of the state's area is under forest cover, the remaining 80 percent belongs to non-forest area which includes 30 percent residential area. Of the 50 percent non-forest area, we are planning to cover about 10 to 30 percent of the area with greenery.""The massive plantation drive will be held across the state. This year we are planning to plant three crore trees and saplings, in 2012 the department will ensure plantation of seven crore trees and in 2013 we have projected to plant about 15 crore new trees. We hope to bring a change in the forest cover in the next two years," added Vijayashankar.Taking up a massive tree plantation drive would be impossible without the public's contribution. "To keep the people engaged in the activities of the department we would be launching a people's connect programme before June 15," he said.