2 months ago
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In a large boost to ongoing eco-restoration initiatives by the Forest department, the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has authorised the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) to proceed tree-felling operations crossed the state.
The FAC, which operates nether the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), granted the hold to the KFDC—a authorities authorities enterprise. Officials noted that the KFDC lease covers 7,748.441 hectares crossed the Thiruvananthapuram, Punalur, Achencovil, Ranni, Munnar, and Thrissur wood divisions.
Although the lease expired connected December 31, 2025, the authorities authorities precocious renewed the licence for an further 25 years. To facilitate this renewal, the MoEFCC approved the continued removal of exotic species, specified arsenic eucalyptus, wattle, and acacia, from the leased lands.
A elder authoritative said that, successful enactment with the state’s eco-restoration policy, the corp has initiated a programme to regenerate exotic taxon with autochthonal flora, targeting afloat conversion by 2040. “The cardinal government’s support volition enactment projects aimed astatine removing exotic taxon and restoring the onshore to earthy forests,” Mr Francis said. “Once these taxon are felled, the section volition not replant them. Instead, we volition let earthy forests to grow, which volition guarantee nutrient availability for wildlife,” helium said.
According to Francis, 50% of the 7,748 hectares is presently occupied by exotic species, portion 30% consists of earthy species.” Eco-restoration has already been completed successful 10% of the full area. The eventual extremity is for the full leased tract to dwell of earthy maturation by 2050,” said the official.
Established successful 1975 to negociate Kerala’s forests, the KFDC is owned by the authorities authorities (90%) and the cardinal authorities (10%). Within its leased areas, the corp focuses connected silvicultural activities, long-rotation crops, and eco-tourism initiatives.
