Strip plantations
Another element of Extension (social forestry) forestry. Raising trees in, small strip of unused lands that are available along road sides, railway tracks and on the banks of water reservoirs. It is to get shade, shelter and beauty. There are five types of strip plantations. They are:
- Roadside plantations
- Rail side plantations
- Canal-bank plantations
- River-bank plantations
- Foreshore plantations
Roadside plantations
Avenue plantation was under taken by forest department, first in Uttar Pradesh. UP was the first state in the country to start a land management circle in 1935 for extension forestry, which is now termed social forestry. Followed by the recommendation by National commission on Agriculture (1973) roadside planting has been an integral part of social forestry in India
Objectives
The basic objectives are:
- To provide shade to travelers
- To improve the aesthetic value of roads
- To make use of land effectively
- To assist in fuel wood supply
- To generate employment opportunity and in the process, contribute to the state revenue
Choice of land:
The strips along the roadsides vary according to the type of roads available viz., national highways, state highways, major district roads and ordinary district roads connecting villages. A village is taken as a unit of planning for social forestry. Therefore it is desirable to integrate roadside planting with village woodlots, so that supervision and management become more convenient .Involvement of public is essential for any project to get a big success. For this villagers need to be motivated. In view of motivating them the relevant portion of roadside planting can be made falling under the boundary of a particular village. Successful roadside planting creates a favorable environment for ensuring bureaucratic patronage.
Choice of species and design
Selection of species should be done on the basis of fulfilling the objectives of road side planting. Species should grow fast, and is essential to possess a dense crown and should be evergreen as far as possible. The shape of the crown should be spherical or of any other attractive shape.e.g.,neem,ficus. Flowers should be brightly coloured, conspicuous and attractive, e.g., Peltoforum. Root system should not cause any damage to the road. It should be able to withstand all extreme environmental conditions (wind, frost, rain, water logging and drought). So wind-firm trees with deep roots are suitable. To prevent damage by browsing animals, the species should be unpalatable .e.g., Eucalyptus and Peltoforum. Fruit bearing trees are also best suited for strip plantations. Planting multi-purpose trees provide additional revenue and consumer products
Planting seedlings
For roadside planting one year old seedlings are best suited. The height should not be less than 1 meter. Urea is used as growth promoter. Watering should be done at least during first year
Protection
At present protection is done by the forest department. If we involve the public for protecting such groves it would make the task of the department much easier.the state department can share the net revenue equally with the Panchayats concerned. This is a good way of motivating Panchayats.
Protection can be given in the form of maintaining live fences of Euphorbia, Prosopis etc., .Barbed wire fences are also used, but they are very costly.
Management
The first row which is a shade row has to be maintained on a long rotation .it may be 50 years or even more based on the nature of species. Before felling, advance planting of tall seedlings should be done in between two trees. The planting should preferably be done three years in advance so as to avoid gaps in the avenue. The stumps of the felled trees should be uprooted which would provide excellent raw material for charcoal. Such measure is necessary to prevent accidents. All other rows should be worked under clear felling or simple coppice system. The rotation may vary with the predominant species but should not be very long. An ideal rotation for all these rows would be between 10 and 15 years .planting along long bends, curves and their approaches should be such as to ensure that visibility is not impaired. National road congress prescriptions for this purpose should be strictly adhered to.
Benefits augmentation of fuel wood and small pole supply, edible fruits, etc. population of birds particularly Partridges, notably increases. The farmers of the fields adjoining the strips are generally of the view that such strips have served as shelter-belts.
Rail side plantations
fuel wood and fodder supply
To enhance aesthetic value
pollarding
pollarding
