Societies in ‘Kill Conocarpus’ mode

Residents of Zion Sky Field in Shilaj, Ahmedabad have removed all 25 Conocarpus trees from their premises after learning about the health issues they can cause. The forest department has issued a notification banning the distribution of Conocarpus saplings and their inclusion in mass plantation drives. However, the department is unaware of the scale at which these trees have been planted in the state. Many societies have been contacting the city social forestry department for guidance on removing Conocarpus trees, which are commonly found in urban areas. The department has planted native trees and does not have an estimate of the number of Conocarpus trees in the state.