Kozhikode: More than 2,76,000 saplings of around 27 species are being readied in the nurseries of the social forestry department for planting by students and youngsters on June 5, World Environment Day, in the district.
A majority of the plants are of flowering and fruit bearing trees. Apart from wild trees, the popular saplings include jackfruit, mango, njaval (jamun), poomaruthu, teak, guava, anjili, gooseberry and mahogany.
Kozhikode assistant conservator of forests (social forestry) V Santhosh Kumar told DC that the prices of the saplings would be finalized this week. “Though there are reports that the price may be increased and there are some communications, the final price list is yet to be drawn up”, he added.
On the distribution of saplings, Mr Kumar said that four blocks of the district, Kozhikode, Chelannur, Kunnamangalam and Kunnummal have already given 50,000 saplings each which would be distributed through schools,
libraries and other organizations.
In total, more than 10 lakh saplings would be distributed across the region on World Environment Day. In Wayanad district, as many as 2,50,000 saplings would be distributed. More than 13 varieties are ready for distribution which includes 40 per cent fruit bearing trees and indigenous and wild fruit tree varieties.
The department had promoted planting of as many as 30,000 seedlings of such wild varieties through nurseries of the forest department at Tholppetti, Muthanga and Begur, last year. Many of the wild mango varieties are very popular among tribals.
