At least 10 indigenous trees hacked in Kalmuste

Nashik: Ten indigenous trees were hacked allegedly by locals in Kalmuste forest area in Trimbakeshwar range on Friday. When some trekkers who spotted the trees tried to confront the locals, they fled without an explanation.
Visitors to Durgarwadi noticed the hacked remnants of tree trunks in Kalmuste close to Durgarwadi while trekking, on their way back they spotted local adivasis with logwoods in the same location.
"We went to Dugarwadi and nearby areas for small trek and noticed the trunks of the trees in Kalmuste area. On the way back we noticed a few tribals with some logwood. We tried to stop them but they ran away," said Sagar Lomte, one of the visitors.
He said that they counted 10 trunks of the trees that were cut. Pangara, Indian coral tree, axle wood tree were a few of the indigenous trees that were hacked.
"We did not see any forest guard in the area or else we would have asked him to visit the spot immediately. Some vigilance has to be in place to prevent hacking of trees," said Sagar.
When contacted, range forest officer of Trimbakeshwar, DC Chowdhary said, "We do have a guard who has additional charge here. He had gone for a training programme. But we have one employee for 800-900 hectares. The adivasis cut tree during this period of the year for an annual village tradition which requires burning of wood. We are trying our best to improve things and put a stop to it."
He said that there was a joint forest management committee (JFMC) in Kachorli, the neighbouring village, which was doing very good work.
"We are trying to promote their work so that the other villagers are inspired to be a part of similar kind of conservation work in the jungles. Generally, we have seen if one village is awarded for their conservation work, the others follow their footsteps," said Chowdhary.