Wed Oct 08 17:36:50 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
An auction conducted by the Forest Department in Udumalpet, India, for Prosopis Juliflora trees (an invasive species) in reserve forest areas saw a significant increase in both bidders and revenue compared to the previous auction. The increased demand for firewood drove the price up, benefitting both the Forest Department, which is required to remove the invasive species, and the contractors who profit from selling the harvested wood.
**News Article:**
**Firewood Demand Drives Up Revenue in Udumalpet Forest Auction**
**TIRUPPUR, INDIA – October 8, 2025 (The Hindu)** – The Forest Department in Udumalpet saw a significant surge in revenue and bidder participation during Tuesday’s auction of Prosopis Juliflora trees, commonly known as “seemai karuvelam.” The auction, held in the Amaravathy and Udumalpet ranges, attracted 91 bidders from across the state, nearly double the 50 participants in a similar auction three months prior.
The auction involved the removal of the invasive species from two 25-hectare swathes within the Amaravathy Reserve Forest, complying with a High Court order mandating the clearance of the overgrowth on a monthly basis.
The trees, enumerated by the Forest Department, were secured by the highest bidders for ₹6,000 per tonne, exceeding the base price of ₹5,000 per tonne. The high demand for firewood contributed to a revenue of ₹62 lakh, based on an estimated 885 tonnes of firewood. This is a substantial increase compared to the previous auction, which generated ₹28 lakh.
Officials say the auction mechanism is a win-win situation, allowing the Forest Department to efficiently manage the removal of the invasive species while providing contractors with the opportunity to profit from the sale of dry firewood, which fetches up to ₹8,000 per tonne on the market.
First Piper 