THE RECENT move of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to re-introduce largescale cultivation of eucalyptus trees in the state invites stiff resistance from environmentalists on the ground it would create ecological imbalance. Experts have always raised concern over the extensive cultivation of this species. "Monoculture of eucalyptus cannot be recommended," said Supraja Dharani, Tree Foundation. "If the intention of the forest department is to increase forest cover in the state, it should plant indigenous species of trees and maintain the bio-diversity of the region," she added. In a study on 'Eucalyptus In India' R M Palanna, Conservator of Forests, Kanara Circle, Karnataka pointed out that extensive cultivation of eucalyptus was introduced in the country in the 1960s. Since then some of the states took advantage of the centrally sponsored scheme and raised eucalyptus plantations by felling even the moist deciduous forests. The forest department wants to increase the forest cover in the state from the present 23,023 sq km (21.25 per cent) to a desirable 33 per cent. To achieve this target, it will have to promote social forestry on at least 20 per cent of the total 75-lakh hectares owned by them. "This project is to be carried out on privately owned land and trees will be grown like any other cash crop. Earlier the mass cultivation was carried out on land possessed by the government and hence there was an uproar against it," said Regional Director, World Wide Fund for Nature, J Murali. Expressing concern over growing eucalyptus in