Berhampur: Cherry blossom, the tree bearing exquisite and delicate pink-white flowers found mostly in Japan and northeastern states of the country, would soon bloom in a few tourist places in Kandhamal and Gajapati districts.After its successful plantation on a pilot basis at Daringbadi, the Berhampur forest circle has decided to plant around 5,000 cherry blossom trees in tourist places this year. The plantation would be carried out in Daringbadi, Mandasaru, Phulbani, Baliguda and Kalinga Ghat regions in Kandhamal district, while Mahendragiri and Jeerang in Gajapati district.Spread across the picturesque Eastern Ghats, these spots are famous for their unique climate, rich biodiversity, tribal heritage and breathtaking landscape, attract visitors from far-off places of the county and abroad.“To make these places distinctive winter tourism destinations, we have decided to carry out massive planting of cherry blossoms,” said Vishwanath Neelannavar, regional conservator of forests (RCCF) Berhampur.Berhampur forest circle had taken its first step by planting a small number of cherry blossoms seedlings sourced from Meghalaya at Daringbadi nature camp on an experimental basis. The experiment has yielded good results as the survival rate of the plants is high and within 1.5 years, the saplings have grown to an average height of nearly six feet. “It indicates that the trees are adapting well to the new place,” said RCCF. The trees will flower in next four to five years, he said.“As the climatic conditions of other selected places is almost the same as in Daringbadi and located from 600 to 1500 metres above sea-level, we have decided to plant the cherry blossoms aiming at the tourist circuit will became one of the eastern India’s most distinctive nature tourism,” he added.He said they have grown three nurseries of cherry blossoms in areas under Phulbani, Baliguda and Paralakhemundi forest divisions, after procuring around 5-kg seeds from Nagaland. “The Nagaland forest department also lent technical expertise on seed treatment and sowing techniques and nursery management,” said Neelannavar.The cherry blossoms are celebrated the world over for their spectacular seasonal blooms and their power to draw tourists, he said. Except some northeastern states, the beautiful flowering plant, however, are rarely seen in the country, sources said.
