[ Prafulla Kaman ]
PASIGHAT, Aug 22: Arunachal Charity Society, a Pasighat based NGO led by Jobang Modi is taking up a special plantation drive to enhance the green cover of the state in attempts to reduce global warming.
Modi said he had a dream to make the state evergreen by plantation of the Chionanthus tree at roadsides, educational institution, government office premises and human habitations. He has selected three varieties of the evergreen species, which is found in natural vegetation of the state for plantation.
Modi made official communication with State Forest Research Institute (SFRI) botanist Dr LR Bhuyan in Itanagar regarding the tree species and accordingly, he got some scientific information on efficacy of the plant species.
The evergreen tree species (Chionanthus ramiflorus) belong to Oieacea family and is locally known as Kitir-Mimir (in Adi) releases sufficient oxygen to the air through photosynthesis.
Moreover, it provides comfortable shelter to many birds and insects and its fruit is favourite food for them. Besides ecological role, the species easily survives on sandy, rocky and muddy types of soil and it has much land-grabbing capacity.
Modi’s NGO has got due permission from the East Siang district administration for the plantation of Chionanthus at roadsides, riverbanks, official campuses and other public places of the district.
He has developed a mini nursery at Ayeng (Mebo) village for production of Chionanthus sapling for large scale plantation.
Reportedly, another Pasighat-based NGO, ‘Bonny Green Revolution’, led by Modi’s wife, Omeng Apum Modi is actively associated with their environmental conservation activities.
