Four innovative schemes launched across the state with a commitment to make Gujarat greener

Gandhinagar News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's mission 'Ek Pad Maan Ke Naam' has reached the masses, four innovative schemes of 'social forestry' have been started across the state under the guidance of Forest Minister Molubhai Bera. Resolve to make Gujarat green. These four innovative schemes started by the Forest Department include (1) Green Forest Path Plantation (2) Panchratan Gram Vatika Plantation (3) Panchratna Plantation around Amrit Sarovar and (4) Preparation of tall plants in nurseries.

According to information received from the Forest Department, the state government has set various targets for the successful implementation of this innovative scheme this year. Under the Green Forest Path Planting Model, there is a plan to plant saplings with tree guards in 70 hectares of area in the state. Apart from this, under the Panchratna Gram Vatika Planting Model, 50 saplings will be planted per village with tree guards in 1,000 villages of the state, and 200 saplings will be planted per Amrit Sarovar under the Panchratna Planting Model around Amrit Sarovar this year. Environment-loving citizens have been requested by the Forest Department to participate in this innovative campaign of 'social forestry'.

Understanding the new schemes of 'Social Forestry'

1. Green Forest Path Plantation:
   The state government has implemented a new Green One Path plantation model for roadside plantation. Under this model, 45 X 45 X 45 cm long saplings of 6 to 8 feet height are planted at a distance of 5 X 5 meters. At this place, tree guards of size 6+1.5 feet should be planted in a row in a pit of the same size. Long-lasting, multi-purpose indigenous trees (LLMPIT) will be planted under this model. In this model, 200 saplings per kilometer on both sides of the road will be considered as plantation in 1.0 hectare area of ​​five kilometers depending on the location.

   On the basis of importance of this plantation, firstly the area declared as 'Protected Forest' along the road will have to be selected and secondly National Highway, State Highway, MDR, ODR etc. will have to be taken respectively. One km on both sides of the road. Plantation of the same species will be mandatory in the length. Before this plantation, the competent authority of the Road and Building Department will have to ensure that the road will not be widened in future or if it is widened then these trees will not be cut under this scheme.

2. Panchratna Gram Vatika Plantation:
   An innovative model of Panchratna Gram Vatika plantation has been implemented for conservation and development of forest resources in the villages of the state. Under this model, large saplings of 6 to 8 feet height are planted at a pit size of 45 X 45 X 45 cm. 50 saplings per village are planted at this site with a pit tree guard of size 6 + 1.5 feet. Long Lasting, Multipurpose Indigenous Trees (LLMPIT) to be planted under this model are suitable in villages where there is lack of large trees like Banyan, Peepal, Desi Mango, Khati Ambali, Beeli etc. or religious places/ panchayat cultivators. / In the village where people can sit and take advantage of the plantation, tree plantation work should be done with the cooperation of the village people.
3. Panchratna plantation around Amrit Sarovar:
   The state government has implemented a new model of Amrit Sarovar Panchratna plantation for plantation around the villages where Amrit Sarovar has been prepared. A tree of 6+1.5 feet size should be planted in this place in a pit of 45 cm x 1.5 cm size with guarding. Under this model, long-lasting, multi-purpose indigenous trees (LLMPIT) will be planted. More than 200 plants will have to be planted as per requirement around the sarovars designated as Amrit Sarovars with the cooperation of citizens, gram panchayat, irrigation etc. departments.
4. Toll Seedling Preparation Model in Nursery:
   The state government has implemented new models for Panchratan plantation around Harit Van Path, Panchratan Gram Vatika and Amrit Sarovar this year. Under this model, it has been decided to plant 6 to 8 feet tall saplings. The tall plant nursery keeps the plants for at least two years to prepare them for planting. At least one central nursery in each division will have 10,000 local plants, high quality CPT seeds in polythene bags of 30 x 40 cm size, prepared during the year 2024-25.

These plants have to be kept in polythene bags for more than two years, so it is necessary to use a good amount of fertilizer, at least two parts of soil and one part of manure-vermicompost etc. The Forest Department further said that the plants have to be maintained keeping in mind the growth of the plants and the thickness of the stem and the prepared plants have to be used for planting under the same model in the third year.