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MP's Dindori-Mandla Forests: 1.47 Lakh Trees Cut, Locals Earn by Catching Destructive Insects.
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News18•04-10-2026, 23:10
MP's Dindori-Mandla Forests: 1.47 Lakh Trees Cut, Locals Earn by Catching Destructive Insects.
- •Tribals in Dindori and Mandla districts' Sal forests are earning by catching a dangerous insect, 'Hoplocerambyx spinicornis', also known as 'Sal Heartwood Borer'.
- •The forest department is paying 2 rupees per insect caught, benefiting tribals and helping save the Sal forests from this destructive pest.
- •This insect severely damages Sal trees by hollowing them from the inside; a central government campaign is underway to prevent the spread of this infection.
- •The central government has approved the cutting of 1.47 lakh severely infected trees, leading to large-scale felling near the Dindori-Mandla road.
- •The campaign involves both tree cutting and insect catching, with villagers collecting insects by hand in the mornings after they emerge at night to feed on tree sap.
Key Questions Answered
The insect damaging the Sal trees is a longhorn beetle with the scientific name 'Hoplocerambyx spinicornis', commonly known as the 'Sal Heartwood Borer'.
The forest department is paying villagers 2 rupees for each insect they catch by hand and deliver to the collection centers.
The central government has approved the cutting of 1.47 lakh trees that are severely affected by the Sal Heartwood Borer infection.
