More than 1 lakh hectares of areas treated for restoring degraded bamboo in the last 4 years
Raipur, 27 July 2023//
The Chhattisgarh Forest and Climate Change Department’s initiative to treat degraded bamboo forests has shown positive changes, with improvements in an extensive 109,000-hectare area in the last four years. The Department’s scheme to rehabilitate the degraded bamboo forests is making strides in benefiting Basodas, Panbareja families, and bamboo handicraft artisans. Bamboo plantation efforts are also underway in both forest and non-forest areas. The initiative, which involves the cleaning of bamboo clumps and mounding of soil in clumps, resulted in improved quality and increased productivity. The project aims to provide ample quantities of high-quality bamboo to uplift local communities and promote sustainable bamboo-based industries.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr. V. Sreenivasa Rao, revealed that the scheme achieved significant progress in the state. In 2019–20, 30,000 hectares of areas were treated for degraded bamboo, followed by 28,970 hectares in 2020–21 and 14,600 hectares in 2021–22. Until December 2022–23, an additional 35,515 hectares of land is under treatment for degraded bamboo, showcasing the ongoing commitment to restoring degraded bamboo forests for a sustainable environment.
