A forest department source states that a Rs 279 crore Western Ghat development scheme will shotly be launched. This five-year long project envisages forest department in a 1/5 million ha area. The plan covers 20 forest divisions of Belgaum, Haliyal, Dharvad, Karwar, Yellapur, Honnavar, Shirahatti, Koppa, Mangalore, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Madekeri, Hunasur, Mysore, Kollegal, and Chamarajanagar in nine districts of Karnataka. The various schemes will be underaken include forest consolidation; trenches along forest borders to act as fire breaks; development of bamboo, sandalwood and teak plantations; tribal welfare schemes. It is also proposed to undertake rearch on the improve, nature of seeds, trees, and plantations for the integrated development of the Western Ghats.