Honnavar: Deputy Conservator of Forest, Vasanth Reddy K V has bemoaned that number of trees were drastically decreasing and trees grown by Forest Department were not sufficient to compensate the loss.

Speaking after the launch of ‘Beejadunde Campaign’ at a programme organized by Honnavar sub- division of Forest Department, at Kasarkod Nursery, on Wednesday, He said 'Beejadunde Campaign' was aimed at increasing number of trees. “Deforestation has badly affected the environment. To ensure balance in nature and check environment pollution there is a need for growing more trees. The Beejadunde Campaign is an effort in this direction.”

He further added saying that Beejadunde was a method of storing seeds to ensure they got sufficient nutrition and protected from pests. Soil mixed with cow dung and urine was made into balls and seeds were stored in those. This would help seeds to get sufficient nutrition's in the initiated stage itself and grow healthily. Besides, seeds would not be affected by pests. The campaign was launched in association with Forest Department staff, Village Forest Committees and other non-government organization. Around 10,000 seeds balls would be used for planting paddy sapling this season.

Forest Department staff, members of Dharmasthal Gramabhivrudhi Yojana and various organizations actively participated in making the seeds balls.