Saving Lahaul’s Willows: Himachal Pradesh Turns To Kashmir Wood

SRINAGAR: In the picturesque Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh, an ecological disaster is unfolding as the willow trees that have sustained the region’s inhabitants for generations are dying. A mysterious disease, coupled with improper irrigation resulting from a lack of winter snowfall, is the cause of this devastation. The valley’s residents rely on the willows for firewood and fodder, making this an urgent situation that requires immediate attention.

To address this crisis, the Himachal Pradesh government has announced a plan to grow Kashmir willows in nurseries before planting them in the forest. The government has already planted 3.4 lakh trees, but more action is needed to save the valley’s source of livelihood.

Lahaul-Spiti legislator Ravi Thakur brought the issue to the assembly’s attention, stating that the willow trees had decayed in just 18 years, impacting every household in the valley. He proposed that more Kashmir willows be planted to replace the decaying trees.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu responded by saying that the government is searching for a cure and replacement for the decaying trees. The government is currently conducting studies to find the cause of the decay at Palampur’s Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishavvidyalaya and Nauni’s Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry. The government has also enlisted the help of Shimla’s Himalayan Forestry Research Institute to find the cause of decay and develop disease-resistant cloned varieties of willow for Lahaul-Spiti.

To ensure the survival of the trees, the forest department has recommended growing willows in polybags at nurseries instead of planting them as naked rootstock. The department is also advising local landowners to use this technique. Additionally, the plantation site must be located near irrigation facilities since willows need a lot of water to grow. Rootstock for plantation should be selected from healthy, young, and vigorous plants, with pollarding done scientifically to avoid mechanical damage.

While the government has recommended a mixed plantation of willow species based on local suitability, it has stated that it will not replace the decaying forest trees with Kashmiri willow trees to prevent the spread of disease caused by monoculture.