CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The state assembly amended the Goa, Daman and Diu (Preservation) of Trees Act, 1984, last week following intense debates and immense pressure brought on the BJP-led government of the state to restore the coconut palm’s pride.

Detailed explanation-2: -In Goa, coconut palm is not a tree anymore. On January 14, the state government passed an amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984, which defined the dimensions of a tree and dropped section 1-A that included the coconut palm as a tree for preservation under the Act.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Government of Goa decided on Matti to be a state tree as: Matti is an indigenous to the state. The Government wanted to attract the attention of the public towards the ecological importance of the Matti to the state and country.

Detailed explanation-4: -The State Tree – Indian Laurel The Indian Laurel, or matti tree, has been the State Tree of Goa for over a quarter of a century.

Detailed explanation-5: -Large production areas, in particular, are found along the coastal regions in the wet tropical areas of Asia in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. (See Table 1). In these countries millions of people make a living from the coconut palm and its many products.