Teak, eucalyptus hit forest diversity

The forest departments in Telangana and AP are using funds meant for afforestation mostly to grow commercial species like teak, eucalyptus and bamboo. This earns them revenue, but is leading to monoculture in the forests.

The money is given to the states under the Compensatory Affores-tation Fund Management and Planning Authority. Experts say largescale selective growing of species will affect the biodiversity of forests, increase the risk of fires and also affect the groundwater table. Teak plantations occupy 50,000 hectares in the two states.

Dr E.N. Murthy, botanist and professor at Satavahana University, said, “Teak does not let ground flora grow and catches fire very easily. Keeping in mind the large number of forest fires in AP and Telangana, it is not advisable to plant them in large numbers.” Dr Murthy said eucalyptus depletes groundwater. “It is an alien species introduced in our country. Only a few animals and birds like it.”

Now, the Telangana government has decided to grow red sanders, which environmentalists say is unscientific.

An environmentalist pointed out that red sanders is endemic to southern AP. “Why is the Telangana government insisting on toying with the ecosystem by bringing in an alien species,” he said.

“The forest department should stop running behind commercially viable species in the name of afforestation and should start growing non-timber plant species including medicinal plants and flowering plants,” he said.