Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with ITC, the company has committed to invest around Rs 9 crore over the next three years to provide assistance to around 1,443 people. Forest Conservation Committees (VSS) includes local disadvantaged communities.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Y Madhusudan Reddy announced the commencement of conservation of Eucalyptus plantations in Eluru, Anakapalle, Tirupati, Nellore and Palnadu districts. These VSS groups were established in 2002 to protect the forest area.
VSS will actively participate in conservation efforts, provide them employment opportunities and wages. Over the years, the efforts of VSS have increased the forest area to about 30,000 acres in five districts. As a recognition of their contribution, the VSS members would be entitled to a share in the profits from the revenue earned through conservation of these forest areas adjacent to the reserve forests.
The matured Eucalyptus saplings in the protected green cover under the supervision of VSS will soon be auctioned. However, the authorities plan to plant new eucalyptus trees in the same areas after cutting down the existing ones. ITC’s collaboration will help increase the forest cover and support VSS in this endeavor by providing necessary material, fresh saplings and technical support.
As an incentive, 50 percent of the revenue generated from the produce of these forest areas will be distributed among VSS members, thereby benefiting local villages. This conservation effort is not only expected to improve the green cover, but also generate employment opportunities and potentially attract industries to the area, thereby boosting its development.
The MoU signing event was attended by ITC officials, including Divisional Head, Plantation and Raw Materials, Sunil Pandey, as well as PCCFs BK Singh and RK Khajuria.