PANAJI
More than eight months after roping in the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, for undertaking satellite-based geo-enabled tree census- covering a total area of around 2,482 sq kms-the Central agency is yet to commence the work. However, the manual exercise by the forest staff is underway.
As per an exercise undertaken by the Forest Department since April, 2022, using a manual method, tree census in the whole of Goa will include approximately 3.17 crore trees spread over in about 2,482 square km area, and is likely to entail expenditure of Rs 89 crore. Total 130 teams across North and South Goa were formed to undertake the census.
In May, last year, the State government had approved roping in FSI to conduct the satellite-based census and the work order was also issued, followed by signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). As per the MoU the work was supposed to be completed within 12 months. The matter is currently being monitored by the High Court.
Highly placed sources informed that there was initial delay to start the work by FSI as the department was awaiting nod from the High Court. “The department had filed a compliance report before the Court requesting that instead of ongoing voluminous manual exercise, use of modern technology through FSI be permitted,” sources said.
“The FSI has not commenced work as there are some issues,” sources said.
Sources informed that as per the exercise undertaken so far, each tree has been tagged with a unique ID along with attributes like latitude, longitude, botanical name, common name, local name, height, girth, condition, ownership and location.
After being repeatedly slammed by the High Court for its lackadaisical attitude to its order dated July 2021, the Forest Department had commenced the tree census exercise as mandated under the Goa, Daman, and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984 (Trees Act).
Sources said that the decision to rope in FSI was taken after it was realized that it is impossible to conduct a tree census for the whole of Goa through manual method within one or two years.
Since 1987, FSI has been drafting a forest cover report every three years, which includes everything- tree cover and extent of green cover outside forest areas.
