By Vijay Kumar Sah
Dhalkebar, Nov. 11: Division Forest Office Dhanusha has produced Shorea robusta (Sal) saplings for the first time for free distribution to locals. 
This is the first time that a variety of seedlings including spices, neem and bay leaves have been produced and distributed free of cost.

According to Madan Chaudhary, Forest Officer at the Sub-Divisional Forest Office, Lalgarh, for the first time, 5,000 local varieties of Sal have been produced in the nursery. 
He said that even though the Shorea robusta saplings are reproduced in the forest area, the saplings have been produced for planting in private forests, gardens and vacant lands.

To produce saplings, seedlings have been produced by collecting pits of healthy Sal trees in the forest. Adhikari said that they would help to offset the deforestation in the Tarai jungle.
He claimed that saplings could be easily produced in the hilly districts but they were grown in the Terai in favourable climate. The height of the saplings produced is more than one foot. They will be distributed to the general public after they grow to two-three feet, Chaudhary informed.

As November is not a suitable time for planting saplings, they will be distributed from next May. In addition to this, other herbal plants are also growing in the nursery.
The saplings produced will be provided free of cost to the municipality, village and locals after the Division Forest Office Dhanusha completes inspection. The remaining trees will be planted in the forest area.

The Forest Office has been producing different species of saplings every year, distributing them free of cost in different areas and planting trees in the forest area, said Sunil Kumar Karna, an officer at the Division Forest Office Dhanusha.