Conocarpus, eucalyptus exiled from Hyderabad

Commissioner says indigenous species like babool, neem, moringa and jamun to be planted in spring

HYDERABAD:

The conocarpus and eucalyptus trees, dubbed inimical for the environment of Hyderabad by the botanical and environmental experts, may no longer be planted in the next plantation campaign.

Hyderabad division Commissioner Syed Khalid Hyder Shah at a meeting with the concerned officials in Hyderabad on Monday categorically barred the forest officials from conocarpus and eucalyptus trees, citing the harmful effects.

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The commissioner directed the forest officials to instead plant neem, teak babool [acacia nilotica], sukh chain [pongamia pinnata], sohanjro [moringa], sirnhin, amaltas [cassia fistula], jamun [java plum] and gulmohar [delonix regia] trees. He pointed out that the Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar has already given instructions in this regard. Shah said the conocarpus and eucalyptus trees should be planted only in areas which are affected by the waterlogging and salinity. He added that the coastal belt is a more suitable place for such trees.

He told the forest officials to work in concert with the Sindh Agriculture Department to encourage farmers to actively participate in the tree plantation exercise. The commissioner saw the district administrations, local government, the government offices, schools, hospitals and other similar departments as potential partners in the plantation drive. Conservator Social Forestry Circle Hyderabad Imtiaz Ahmad Solangi apprised the meeting that the campaign will start in February, 2024. He assured that only the environment friendly local trees will be planted.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2023.