The Forest and Wildlife Department is gearing up to convert nearly 240 hectares of monocrop plantations in Wayanad district to natural forest. Under the eco-restoration programme of the department, nearly 29 of the 199 hectares of monocrop plantation in the Sugandhagiri section of forest under the Kalpetta forest range of the South Wayanad forest division and 39 hectares of teak and softwood plantations at Ondayangadi under the Begur range of forest under the North Wayanad forest division will be converted to forestland. Cleared in 2018A huge area under the Sugandhagiri forest section was cleared of eucalyptus trees in 2018 and natural forest has taken over most of the open space, South Wayanad forest divisional officer P. Ranjith Kumar told The Hindu. The department would also convert 39 hectares of teak plantation at Ondayangadi under the Begur range of forest of the North Wayanad forest division. “We are planning to plant nine endemic species such as Ungu, Nelli, Thani, Kumizhu, Ayani plavu and Cheru,” said V. Ratheesan, forest range officer, Begur forest division.

Source: The Hindu July 04, 2020 18:00 UTC