Eight local bodies in Ernakulam district have offered to set apart a total of 1.45 acres for developing ‘green pastures’ under the State government’s ‘Pachathuruthu’ initiative.
The project envisages converting barren lands into lush patches to increase green cover and tackle the growing challenges posed by climate change.
The local bodies that have come forward to join hands with the Haritha Keralam Mission (HKM), the agency implementing the project, include Kottuvali (30 cents), Keezhmad (40 cents), Cheranalloor (10 cents), Palakuzha (5 cents), Mulanthuruthy (10 cents), Amballur (10 cents), Varapetti (15 cents), and Koovapadi (25 cents).
“The lands belong to the local bodies concerned. In the first phase, the eight local bodies will be partners in developing green pastures. Training will be imparted to stakeholders in developing green islands,” said HKM district co-ordinator Sujith Karun.
Officials of the Forest Department, MNREGA, Biodiversity Board, environmental organisations, educational institutions, and the Haritha Keralam Mission will provide expert training to elected representatives, officials, and bio-diversity committee representatives in each local body.
A handbook has been prepared as part of the training programme.
A district-level committee comprising environmentalists, experts in biodiversity, agriculture and afforestation programmes, and local communities will help in identifying saplings and tree varieties required in each region, besides offering technical guidance for developing green pastures.
According to HKM guidelines, public places will be converted to green pastures by planting local species of trees and plants. The idea is to have natural and biodiverse islands. Besides the lands owned by the local bodies, Pachathuruthu can be developed in government or private lands, puramboke, city centres, and unused lands.
The local bodies can also focus on plants and trees that help in generating a steady income.
They can set up green islands exclusively for medicinal plants. The larger objective is to create mini forests across the State in a phased manner.
Interestingly, they can be developed in even half a cent. The protection of sacred groves and mangroves also forms part of the green initiative inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on June 5.