Bhubaneswar: Additional Chief Secretary Forest Environment, Climate Change and Home, Satyabrata Sahu has urged the people to come forward and take charge of our own forest & environment right from the grassroots and help restore them to ensure a better forest and healthier society.
ACS Shri Sahu was speaking in the meeting held for celebrating the International Day of Forests or World Forestry Day. This year’s theme is “Forest and Food”. Minister Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia inaugurated the meeting.
Shri Sahu said Forests are crucial for human survival and environmental stability. Forests provide Food and medicines. They also support farming by improving the soil quality, checking soil erosion, maintaining water regime and providing habitat for pollinators which boosts crop production. Forests are beneficial in many ways like combating global warming, depletion of ozone layer and in contributing to the prosperity and well-being of the current and future generations.
The Forest cover of Odisha as per the latest Indian State of Forest report, 2023 is 52,433.56 Sq. Km (33.67% of geographical area) while the tree cover of the State is 6,163.45 Sq. Km. i.e. 3.96% of geographical area. Therefore percentage of Forest & Tree Cover of the State is 37.63%. The State of Odisha has gained 558.57 Square Kilometers of forest and tree cover which is the third highest gain within a period of two years i.e. from 2021 to 2023, said ACS Shri Sahu.
The Mangrove Cover of the State as per the 2023 FSI Report is 259.06 sq. km. Odisha has recorded an increase of 1.55 sq. km. of Mangrove over the year 2021 report. This has been possible due to the protection provided by the staff, extensive plantations carried out both inside and outside the forests, and the effort of more than 16194 Vana Surakshya Samitees(VSS) and 590 nos of Eco Development Committees(EDCs).
During 2024-25, 4042.68 ha. AR Plantation, 26676.66 ha. ANR Plantation, 2020.70 RKM of Avenue Plantation and UTP of 5.85 lakh seedlings have been carried out. In total 195 crore of seedlings have been planted. Besides, 2.33 crores of seedlings have been distributed to the beneficiaries / institutions for planting in their own areas during 2024-25. Under “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign 5.28 Cr seedlings have been uploaded in MeriLiFE Portal, upto 31.01.2025.
During, 2025-26, it is proposed to raise plantation over 29012.23 Ha. consisting of 2740.36 Ha. of Block Plantation & 26271.87 Ha. of ANR. It is also planned to take up 532 RKM of Avenue Plantation. 1.62 cr. Seedlings are to be planted and 3.00 Cr. of seedlings will be distributed to public and institutions.
In addition to regular afforestation activities, under 4,601 Vana Surakshya Samitis have been involved to restore the forests under livelihood scheme. About 14,263 women SHGs have been linked to various income generating activities under this scheme.
Further, the Odisha Forestry Development Project in phase-II has covered over 1211 VSS in 10 project districts and benefited about 1.47 lakh households and 6.37 lakh beneficiaries providing various livelihood improvement activities.
Regarding the activities of State Medicinal Plants Board, a Medicinal Plants Knowledge Centre at Patrapada has been developed with plantation of 118 species to enhance and share knowledge about medicinal plant species. Ekamra Van with a garden of medicinal plants at Bindusagar has been developed to create awareness on traditional herbal medicines among urbanites, pointed out the ACS.