In a unique community-led conservation initiative, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has launched an incentive-based campaign to tackle a widespread sal borer beetle infestation threatening vast stretches of sal forests in Dindori district.
Under the programme, local villagers are being paid Rs 2 for every sal borer beetle they collect. The initiative has drawn participation from across age groups, with children, women, and elderly residents venturing into forests to gather the pests. Villagers string together garlands of 100 severed beetle heads and deposit them at designated collection centres to receive payment.
“The initiative aims to reduce the sal borer population and protect sal forests through active community participation,” said Koshambi Jha, Range Forest Officer of West Karanjia.
Forest officials said sal trees — native to regions including India, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Himalayan belt — form a critical part of central India’s forest ecosystem and support the livelihoods of thousands of tribal families.
The current outbreak has affected around 30,487 hectares of forest and nearly 1.47 lakh sal trees during 2026–27. Officials noted that a similar infestation occurred nearly three decades ago, forcing authorities to fell thousands of trees to contain the damage.
The sal borer beetle breeds rapidly, with a life cycle of about 15 days. A single insect can lay between 300 and 500 eggs, allowing populations to surge quickly. The pest typically attacks after the monsoon, boring into trees and hollowing out even healthy ones within days.
Dindori district has approximately 2.5 lakh hectares of forest, including about 1.5 lakh hectares of sal forests comprising an estimated 40 crore trees. To control the infestation, authorities have also launched a “trap tree” strategy — felling one sal tree every two hectares and beating its bark to release an odour that attracts the beetles.
“Villagers collect the insects from these trap trees between 5 am and 7 am. More than 11 lakh sal borers have been collected so far,” said S K Jatav, Sub-Divisional Officer (Forest).
The collected insects are deposited at five centres located in Kharidih, Chauradadar, Kabir, Jagatpur, and Karanjia. Officials said the initiative is not only helping curb the pest population but also providing supplementary income to local communities.
According to Divisional Forest Officer (Production) Bharti Thakre, said as many as 1,46,784 sal trees have been severely damaged and rendered hollow due to the infestation. “We are awaiting permission from the Centre to fell these trees, which may take around three months. Meanwhile, the campaign is focused on protecting the remaining healthy trees,” she said.
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