Lifeline for Ashoka

KOLLAM: The Forest Department has launched a programme to protect, conserve and propagate the Ashoka tree ( Saraca asoca) that faces the threat of extinction.

The programme has been launched taking into consideration the environmental and medicinal importance of the tree. The department will request people having an Ashoka tree in their garden/ compound to inform the department if the tree has started producing seeds. The tree usually flowers from February to April and starts producing seeds in May. The seeds usually go waste. The attempt of the department is to collect the seeds from individual houses and propagate them. The saplings will be distributed to the people and propagated under the social forestry programme and inside forests