Stop felling fruit trees

Photo: STAR

People cutting down fruit trees on their courtyards is a very common picture in our locality. Many fruit trees are cut down every day. If it continues, all the fruit trees will disappear from this area soon. But only one decade ago this locality was abounded with many kinds of fruit trees.
The people of this region have to depend on imported fruits now. But this imported fruits are contaminated with poisonous chemicals which is very harmful for the human body. These days people are more interested in planting wood trees rather than fruit trees. People think that wood trees are more profitable than fruit trees. Within ten years of planting, the wood tree becomes mature to be sold. On the other hand, a fruit tree can give fruits within one or two years. Birds, bees and many kinds of insects are the main victims of this unmindful act. As the trees are not there, the birds have also vanished. Even a crow is hardly seen here. And this affects the ecological balance.
I discussed this with some locals and found that they are not aware of the fact. They said, “We are planting more trees for keeping the environment healthy.” They don't understand the necessity of fruit trees. So the forest department should take steps to encourage people to plant more and more fruit trees.