Gandhinagar: Want to plant a sapling but finding it difficult to locate a nearby Gujarat Forest Department nursery? There’s now an easy solution. Simply dial 8320002000. The call will disconnect automatically, and you will receive an SMS containing a link on your mobile phone. Open the link to access the contact details of the nearest forest nursery and its location on Google Maps, along with those of the concerned forest officials, making it easier to obtain saplings and other assistance.

Also, if you send an SMS or WhatsApp message saying “Hi” to 8320002000, you will receive an SMS containing a web link. Clicking on the link opens a menu with multiple options, including the contact details of all Gujarat Forest Department nurseries, Range Forest Officers (RFOs), eco-tourism sites, and other forest-related services.

“The Gujarat Forest Department is committed to ensuring that citizens can easily obtain saplings from forest nurseries in their vicinity. The Social Forestry wing has made extensive arrangements for sapling distribution. The Forest Department has raised 11.80 crore seedlings for distribution to the public,” said Arjun Modhwadia, Forests and Environment Minister, Gujarat.

“In a citizen-centric initiative, the Gujarat Forest Department has introduced an in-house digital helpline system that is making it easier for people across the state to connect with the right forest officials for assistance and grievance redressal,” said Pravin Mali, Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Gujarat.

According to officials, the service has witnessed an encouraging public response, with the department receiving around 30 to 40 missed calls every day. “A key feature of the initiative is its dynamic digital platform, which can be updated quickly to meet emerging requirements,” said S. K. Srivastava, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Research and Training).

How to Get Seedlings from Forest Nurseries

“Citizens can purchase high-quality seedlings from any Forest Department nursery at nominal prices ranging from ₹5 to ₹15 per sapling, depending on the size. There are a total of 453 forest nurseries across the state. Seedlings raised in polybags of size 15 × 25 cm or 10 × 20 cm are distributed free of cost. Those seeking seedlings free of cost or at concessional rates are requested to contact the concerned Range Forest Officer (RFO) or the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) in their district,” said R. K. Sugoor, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry), Gandhinagar.

Dial 1926 Helpline for Wildlife Rescue Requests

“For grievances or cases requiring further intervention, citizens can contact the Forest Department’s toll-free helpline, 1926. The helpline also receives nearly 30 to 40 calls daily.

“The entire system has been developed and is being maintained in-house, reflecting the department’s emphasis on using technology to improve public service delivery without incurring additional costs. The initiative has helped create a single, easily accessible point of contact for citizens seeking assistance from the Forest Department while ensuring faster communication and efficient resolution of their concerns,” an official added. DeshGujarat