By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, June 6: The Division Forest Office in Banke has been producing a large quantity of saplings yearly for environmental conservation. For this, the forest office has produced 300,000 saplings this year.

The forest office, which has been planting trees in various community and national forests after producing and distributing seedlings, has not been able to distribute saplings as per the demand, said Birendra Roka, Information Officer at the Division Forest Office, Banke.

He said that the target for this fiscal year is to plant 86,400 trees on 54 hectares in Banke, of which,  44,800 saplings have already been planted on 28 hectares in July/August last year, and 41,600 seedlings will be planted on 26 hectares in June/July this year.

“The demand for saplings is increasing, and we have not been able to supply them as per the demand,” Roka said adding, “This year, 300,000 saplings have been produced, but it is insufficient.”

The Division Forest Office in Banke said that the demand for saplings has been increasing due to widespread awareness in the community about the need for tree planting in recent years.

The Division Forest Office has been distributing saplings for various programmes, to meet the farmers' needs and to plant in community and national forests. “We publish notices for the distribution of seedlings and distribute them according to the demand,” he said. “We prioritise community and national forests,” Roka added.

The Division Forest Office in Nepalgunj has said that seedlings are distributed in June and July, as the environment for their protection and growth must also be ensured when planting a large number of trees.

According to the office, saplings are produced in nurseries of the Division Forest Office Nepalgunj, Sub-Division Forest Office Kohalpur, Shamshergunj, Mehmanpur, and Sikta Division. 

According to the forest office, tenders have been issued for the establishment of nurseries in Narainapur and Dhakari, and work is in progress. It is said that sapling production will increase once the new nurseries are developed.

Meanwhile, various programmes were organised in Banke on Wednesday to mark Environment Day. The Division Forest Office organised a tree planting programme in Shital Chhaya Community Forest in Kohalpur-8. 

Similarly, Nepalgunj Cycling Club also conducted activities to raise awareness about tree planting and emphasise environmental conservation.