Baripada: The district administration here has decided to revive the traditional practice of palm tree plantation to deal with lightning deaths, climate change, drought, floods and cyclones in the region.
Keeping the rising deaths due to lightning every year in view, Baripada Forest Division took up the initiative of planting palm trees that act as good conductor during lightning strikes.
By now, the Forest Department has planted more than 400 saplings and sown palm seeds on roadsides with the help of locals, students and teachers of Jamsuli and Baghabasa Primary School under the Kaptipada forest range. The department targets to plant palm trees along forest boundaries on the national and state highways as well as in common land in coastal villages.
Earlier, planting palm trees was a traditional practice in villages, but this has now been discontinued due to urbanisation and development. So, the Forest Department has once again started spreading awareness about the benefits of planting palm trees.
Apart from standing as a bulwark against lightning, the tree has a wide range of uses – its fruits are eaten, the stem is valuable as wood, and baskets and mats are woven with the leaves.
“Lightning usually hits the tallest object first. Palm trees are the tallest and work as lightning conductors,” a forest official said adding that its roots also protect embankments from soil erosion.
As many as 28 people have died of lightning across the district this year. Most such cases have been reported from the rural areas.
The Forest Department has directed all the regional conservators of Forest and Divisional Forest Officers to ensure palm trees are planted on boundaries of forest, plantation areas barren land and roadside.
“The trees effectively address environmental concerns and also help conserve water and regulate the underground water table,” forest Ranger of Kaptipada forest range Maheswar Singh said.
PNN
