Uttar Pradesh: Trees as brands for different districts

LUCKNOW: State government would now brand districts based on endemic tree species. Identifying endemic tree species of different districts has been taken up under the plantation mission for this year . Much on the lines of `One District One Product’, which encourages indigenous and specialised art and craft of every district, government has introduced the concept of 'One District One Tree' in the plantation scheme.
Sources said, “It would be done in two ways, by identifying the species which are native to a district and promoting them as well as by planting one species in maximum number in a district." At present, district level forest and administrative officers are identifying species endemic to their region.
“Such species may not be found for all the districts but even if we could identify for some of the districts it would help in conservation of those species as well as creating awareness about the benefits of the tree varieties to local people.”
Some of the prominent tree species have already been identified like Gorakhpur’s Sagaun, Gonda’s Sheesham and Sitapur’s Gamhaar.
Many of these varieties are now not grown in huge numbers in these regions given varied reasons, lack of awareness about the benefits of the varieties being one. Based on the soil and climatic conditions, some chosen tree species will be promoted in a big way in select districts.
“But that would be done in consultation with the farmers and local people,” said sources. A total of 25 crore trees would be planted this year under state government’s plantation drive.