New Agri Tactic: CM unveils forest plan with helicopter seeding, digital mapping, plantations

Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday unveiled a new strategy for forest conservation and livelihood generation in Jharkhand, directing the forest, environment and climate change department to prepare a plan for helicopter-assisted seed dispersal, complete digital mapping of all forest areas within a month, and promote utility-based plantation and commercial forestry to strengthen both the state’s green cover and rural economy.

Chairing a high-level review meeting of the department, the Chief Minister said Jharkhand’s forests should be managed through modern technology while ensuring that conservation efforts directly benefit people living in and around forest areas.

Digital mapping of forests within a month: Soren directed officials to prepare a technical and digital record of all forest areas in the state within one month. He said digital mapping should enable authorities to monitor changes in forest cover, mining activities, eco-tourism projects, wildlife habitats and other developments through a single integrated platform.

Helicopter seeding to expand forest cover: The Chief Minister asked the department to prepare a comprehensive plan for aerial seed dispersal using helicopters to regenerate forest areas and increase green cover. He also directed officials to prepare a scientific plan for removing dry and unproductive trees to facilitate fresh plantations.

Utility-based plantation over numbers: Emphasising that plantation drives should not be confined to increasing the number of saplings, Soren directed officials to adopt a utility-based plantation policy suited to the local ecosystem. He asked the department to prioritise indigenous and economically beneficial species such as Mahua, Jamun, Karanj, Palash, Kusum, Ber and Arjun, saying they would enhance biodiversity while supporting rural livelihoods through fruit production, lac cultivation and the tasar silk industry.

He said plantation should benefit local communities and livestock as well as the environment, and advised officials to avoid species that offer little ecological or economic value.

Push for cashew, bamboo cultivation: To create new income opportunities for farmers, the Chief Minister directed the department to identify suitable land for large-scale cashew and bamboo plantations. He said bamboo-based industries and handicrafts could generate substantial self-employment while strengthening the rural economy.

Eco-tourism and forest rights

Calling Jharkhand’s forests, wildlife and biodiversity among the state’s greatest strengths, Soren said there was immense potential for eco-tourism and asked the forest and tourism departments to jointly prepare a comprehensive development plan.

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