Plant poplar and eucalyptus trees

摘要

As per the Forest Survey of India Report (2003),forest and tree cover in Punjab is 6.33 per cent,which is approximately 13.66 per cent less thanstipulated in the national forest policy. This iscreating ecological disturbances. NATURAL forest cover in India has declinedabout by 35 per cent over last 50 years withsteep rise in population, poverty and industrial woodneeds. Unless conserve sincerely little naturalforests will be left in next 50 years. Since, forests playa crucial role in ecological stability, socio-economicwell being and development of a nation, destructionand degradation of forest resources have detrimentaleffect on soil, water and climate and hence, onhuman and animal life on the earth. As per thereports of Forest Survey of India (2003) forest andtree cover in Punjab is 6.33 percent which isapproximately 13.66 percent less than stipulated inour national forest policy. This is creating ecologicaldisturbances i.e. reduction in number of rainy days,disturbance in hydro cycle and recharge problemsof underground water table and pollution of soils inagriculture etc. The review of present land useplanning of state reveal that more than 84 per cent ofits area under intensive agriculture. Thus there isnot much scope to increase area under forest.However, the area under tree cover can be increasedby way incorporating trees on farm lands(Agroforestry) to achieve ecological stability andsocio economic well being of the farmers. Scientistsof Punjab Agricultural University and StateDepartment of Agriculture (Punjab) had beenadvocating diversification of agriculture of the state.Farmers have taken up poplar and eucalyptusplantation as one of the alternative of diversificationof agriculture from 1980's.