Can some one tell me about this phenomena regarding Silk cotton tree? Hearing this for the first time.Forwarding this mail that came to me. geetha
TN forest Dept forced to fell 'polluting' trees Thursday, 28 August, 2008 10:33 PM From: "G Narayanan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Add sender to Contacts To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Inline Attachment Follows----- Hi Folks - Please read this report and enlighten me? As far as I can remember, Silk cotton trees (Bombax ceiba) are a native species, and their flowers are an important food source for several species. Perhaps the reporter has erred in identifying the species, or has quoted "out of context". Perhaps someone knowledgeable about forest ecology can confirm if the "facts" stated in the report are indeed correct. I hesitate to ask - do we know anything about the ecology of this species and whether any scientific assessment of the claims in the report have been carried out? Thanks GN http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200808281221.htm Theni (TN) (PTI): At a time when the focus is on afforestation, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department is facing a strange situation -- large scale felling of cotton silk trees in reserve forest areas in the district as these trees were found be be causing extensive damage to the ecology. About 10,000 trees raised by settlers in Varushanadu, Vellimalai and Megamalai hilly reserve forests have already been cut to protect the flora and fauna, official sources told PTI here. They said the silk cotton trees, though providing a livelihood to the settlers, harmed the growth of herbal plants native to the hills and also turned out to be a parasite nourishing on the moisture and nutrition of the wild trees in the forest. A silk cotton tree would suck water from four square metre range. Besides, when the pod of the tree bursts, it causes pollution and affects the health of birds and wild animals. The department realised that if the rare trees, native to the hills perished, there would be a chain reaction affecting the fauna also. Birds, squirrels and other species of animals would not get their food. The trees consumed a lot of ground water and would not allow other plants in the neighbourhood to blossom and grow, said an official. For more read.... http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200808281221.htm --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
