User:HARITHA S MANOHARAN

"PLANTATION OF EUCALYPTUS""'A THREAT TO MANKIND '""CASE STUDY CONDUCTED IN WAYANAD""'Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Eucalyptus grandis, a shorter variety of eucalyptus, whose fragrant smell suffuses the very air around it, is cultivated on a large scale in certain parts of the district especially in between the forest cover where the traditional tribes of Wayanad resides.""AS A SOURCE OF INCOME!""* Eucalyptus oil is extracted on commercial basis from its leaves.""Citriodora, the variety of eucalyptus mostly found in the area, would grow into matured trees within two years of planting, enabling farmers to distill the leaves to      make eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus oil fetches Rs 380 to Rs 400 in the market.""*Eucalyptus cultivation was introduced in the area by the British colonialists, who used its timber, bark and wood for a variety of uses in view of its pest-repellent and deodorizing qualities and the same is followed.""Hindustan Newsprint Limited raised these trees in order to meet their raw materials""WHY A THREAT ?""Roots absorb more ground water and minerals, hence results in depletion of under ground water ultimately leading to drought.""* Drying up of pond, streams etc...""* Inhabitants there namely the tribal folk and also people residing near these trees are also suffering.""As a result of its fast growth and high biomass production Eucalyptus species consume more water than other, less productive species.""Growth of other vegetation nearby it, is also retarded as a result herbivore species become less in number which affects the food pattern of higher species.""Food web is largely destroyed." Adversely affects the climatic behavior. "Non-availability of water leads to health related problems.""*Affects human population and also the animal population.Have to go far away places to fetch water.""*People living inside the forest might find it difficult, as they are often prone to animal attacks.""SOLUTIONS""Replacement of eucalyptus with other environmental friendly species in the forest cover where the tribal folk resides.""Water consumption""*Reduce biomass production - by reducing the number of stems per area.""*On a commercial basis farmers can switch over to other types of crops such as tea, coffee etc…… according to the climatic pattern.""*In order to preserve the species ,Forest Department can take initiatives (eg:Cryopreservation)""*Proper estimation regarding the growth of the species.""*Tree breeding leading to improved seed and vegetative sources""*Optimum stocking on specific sites - in order to balance environmental impacts and biomass production.""NGO’s""Some environmental campaigners, however, are sceptical of encouraging commercial cultivation of eucalyptus as the plant sucks huge quantities of ground water, turning the land arid and infertile."""