Now, no permission needed to transport wood of 42 trees

 The Forest department has listed 42 tree species which do not need transit permission, through a government notification issued on December 7. 

The order is relaxed only for private lands. However, permission to cut trees is needed from tree officers under the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976. Forests continue to be protected without allowing anyone to lift uprooted trees. The new exemption will help promote agro-forestry.

T M Vijay Bhaskar, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests and Ecology, said that earlier 26 trees did not need transit permission. “Now, the list includes 42 species which generally do not grow in forest areas. The aim of the notification is to promote agroforestry so that farmers do not need additional permission for transportation,” he said.

Brijesh Kumar Dixit, additional principal chief conservator of forests, Forest Resource Management, said there had been cases where rain trees had fallen because of heavy downpour. But they were left at the site till the transport permission was obtained. This notification will allow the tree to be transported without waiting for permission from anyone.

The Kerala government has listed 55 trees which do not need transit permission and Tamil Nadu, 36 trees. The Forest department had sent the draft notification to the government in October, listing 43 species. The government, however, removed Balangi tree (Pink Cedar) from the list as it was largely exploited.

Some exempted trees

Acacia Hybrid, Acacia Mangium, Tree of Heaven, Rain Tree, all bamboos except Bambusa Arundinacea, all cassias except Golden Rain Tree, Cashew, Christmas Tree, Arecanut, Casurina, Lemon, Orange, Coconut, Coffee, Mayflower, Indian Coral Tree, Eucalyptus, Glyceridia, Quick Stick, Silver Oak, Rubber, Jacaranda, Sausage Tree, Sababul, Umbrella Tree, Sapota, Melia, Indian Cork Tree, Drumsticks, Mulberry, Curry Leaf Tree and others.