Coconut is now officially no longer a tree!
Trying to re-define botany and plant science, the Goa government on Thursday passed the Goa Preservation of Trees (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Under the amendment, the coconut tree is no longer considered a tree but a palm in Goa.
Botanically, the ‘coconut palm’ is not a tree since there is no bark, no branches, or secondary growth. A coconut palm is a woody perennial monocotyledon with the trunk being the stem. Despite being known as a tree since ages, most ‘palms’ are scientifically ‘tree-like’ botanical species but not ‘trees.’
The activists and opposition parties in Goa protested the move, claiming that the move is aimed at not letting environmental concerns come in the way of corporates.
Speaking to The Quint Dr Oscar Rebello a leading social activist of Goa, said,
This very clearly looks like an agenda to allow massive felling of coconut trees in various parts of Goa where distilleries and building projects have to come up. Till the moment coconut is a tree you have go to the forest department and follow procedures to seek permissions for cutting the trees. There should be a national debate on this issue by botanical scientists as to how you can declare a tree a palm only to facilitate its carnage.
Goan singer Friz Love has put out this English and Konkani song pleading to Goans to save the coconut tree. In two days the video has been viewed more than 90,000 times. The lyrics of the song spell out the sentiments of an ordinary Goan,
Coconut tree is no more a tree,
Goa government has made history
Goa save coconut tree
Goa save your identity.
Coconut is staple to Goa, used in curries, desserts and for oil. Goa has an extensive cover of coconut trees which could not be cut without permission under the Goa Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984. Once the new Bill comes into force people will no longer be bound to a plant a new sapling to replace trees which have been felled.
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