Plantation Of Native Species In Bhubaneswar

• 20 May 2019

Why is it in News?

Experts have urged the Bhubaneswar city administration to undertake plantation of native species which could withstand strong cyclonic winds in future.

How much did the trees suffer?

• Around 99% of trees had suffered damage when Cyclone Fani hit the city on May 3. About 6% trees were uprooted and 5% suffered complete damage. As high as 57% of trees were partially damaged.
• Although the fig plants like Ficus bengalensis and Ficus religiosa survived Fani’s fury, most of their branches were lost. Kadamba (Anthocephalus cadamba) trees suffered heavy loss in the cyclone.
• However, native species such as Karanja, Chhatiana, Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Bahada (Terminalia bellerica), Jamun (Jambul), Amba (mango) and Arjuna (terminalia) trees withstood the high wind speed and lost only 50% of their branches. These species should get priority when plantation would be undertaken in future.