Panaji: Putting to rest the confusion about the state tree, the government on Thursday issued a notification declaring both the coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) and the Matti (Terminalia elliptica) as state trees.
In August, the BJP-led coalition government had passed an amendment of the Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Tress Act 1984, declaring the coconut palm as the 'state tree', while also including it in the list of trees.
While the move was welcomed, environmentalists began to ask whether the indigenous forest tree, Matti, also known as crocodile bark tree, had been sidelined, since it had already been notified as the state tree.
The notification, which has been signed by under secretary for forests Shaila Bhosle, seeks to address this confusion. The decision to accord the coconut palm the status of the state tree came after the government's coalition partner romped to election victory with the coconut as their symbol.
In January 2016, the previous BJP government amended the Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act 1984 and dropped the tree status accorded to the coconut. The move gave rise to severe criticism, with Goa Forward Party starting a movement to reverse the decision and promising to make the coconut the state tree if elected to power.
The move to have two state trees did not convince former principal chief conservator of forest Richard D'Souza who suggested that Thursday's notification lacked scientific temperament. "You cannot have two state trees. Matti belongs to the Western Ghats and is appropriate to be called the state tree, but the coconut tree is found all over the world," D'Souza said while speaking to TOI.
For over a quarter century, Matti has enjoyed the status of state tree of Goa. The tree has been accorded this status since it is an indigenous forest tree and since it plays an ecological role with its capacity to store water for the dry season.
