PANAJI: Seeking innovative ways to reduce man-animal conflicts, the forest department plans to create and revive around 100 new water bodies in forests that dot the state.
The move, along with plantation of scores of fruit-bearing trees in the jungles will help prevent wild animals from straying into human habitations, said chief minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion of World Environment Day, Sawant said that the department also plans to distribute and encourage the plantation of five lakh fruit-bearing trees.
“We looked to see why there were man-animal conflicts and we found that the animals leave the jungle to search for things that they can’t get – water and food.
That is why, to reduce human-animal conflict we have started water harvesting and growing fruit-bearing trees in forests,” said Sawant.
The chief minister announced that the state government has paid compensation of Rs 10 lakh as relief to farmers who suffered from human-animal conflict.
“The state has a dedicated wildlife rescue team that is available 24×7,” said Sawant.
The theme for this World Environment Day is ‘Restoring the Ecosystem’, and Sawant called on all stakeholders to help preserve and protect forests, wild animals and other natural resources.
Ironically, Sawant has vehemently refused to engage with wildlife activists and environmentalists who waged a long campaign to stop trees from being felled in the Mollem wildlife sanctuary.
Sawant said that in order to create awareness about the importance of natural forests, the state government has been organising special events like bird festival, turtle conversation, etc.
He also said that eco-tourism activities are being promoted through biodiversity parks and new nurseries that are being set up at Harvalem in north and Dharbandora in South Goa.
“250 youth have been trained as nature guide to inform people about the rich biodiversity of the forests.
There are 50 vaidya mitras who can harvest different herbs available in the forests and are registered with the forest department,” Sawant said.
The forest department is distributing saplings at Campal ground for free with the aim of planting 5 lakh trees in the state to mark World Environment Day.
“Ecosystem restoration requires everyone to work together, the government and the people.
Only then can the ecosystem be restored,” the chief minister said.