Goans, who love their greenery, are going back to their plants with a vengeance after a decade and more since the 1990s that saw "concrete jungles" springing up in various parts of the state. And what better time than the monsoon!

With the rains about to set in, villagers and environmentalists are looking out for ways to promote the decreasing green cover of this still scenic-in-parts coastal state.

Miguel Braganza, an agricultural officer turned editor, points to a number of nurseries around north Goa that sell plants, both fruit and decorative, at affordable prices.

With names like Viraj Nursery, Vikas Nursery, Nisarga, or even more exotic appellations like Mr Farmer, Rodney's Roses and Green Triangle, such outlets sell a number of plants in this still fairly rural state of 1.4 million.

Braganza advocates the planting of fruit trees along hillsides.

"Fruit trees like jamun (Syzygium jambolana), zaam (Syzygium aquem), guava, cashew, mango, jackfruit, tamarind, bindna or kokum (Garcinia indica), aonla (Phyllanthus emblica), West Indian fig, West indian cherry (Malphigia), Indian cherry/kantam (Carissa carandas), bor (Zizypus sp.), churna (Zizypus rugosa), bael (Aegle marmellos) and false bael or wood apple (Feronia sp.) are best planted to attract children to the hills," he says.

"Animals, squirrels and birds will come too. One or two rain trees would provide extensive shade within three or four years," Braganza tells villagers wanting to green an area around their village spring in Saligao, north Goa, which has come under increasing concrete construction of late.

In Mapusa, another network called the Nisarga Nursery believes in propagating fruit trees, and encouraging citizens to plant these - even in their own backyard.

Nisarga has a few tall-grown tree species in cement bags. Goa's Forest Department also has some species.

"When everything, including trees, are cleared, there is a multi-storeyed structure, there is a parking lot and there is an area, which is tiled. But there is hardly any planning to do tree planting," complains Sandeep Azrencar, coordinator of the Nisarga Nature Club, and a businessman-turned-environmentalist.

In addition to these initiatives, a voluntary group called the Botanical Society of Goa (BSG) has spread the green message through its member schools and colleges.

The BSG defines itself as an association of plant lovers -- age, gender, education, profession no bar -- that helps to green the minds and to green the land with green hands.

Recently, the Centre for Environmental Education, Botanical Society of Goa and Nisarga decided to come together to celebrate the World Environment Week.

The BSG, another group called the Western Ghats Kokum Foundation (WGKF) -- which promotes a tree called the 'kokum' -- and World Wide Fund for Nature have also been involved in these initiatives.

The foundation recently signed an agreement with Goa University to plant different tree species in and around the varsity campus. The State Bank of India, which had funded a mini orchard at Goa University in the early 1990s, has again offered its support.

Ajit Shirodkar, the force behind the WGKF, is eager to promote the kokum (Garcinia indica) tree in Goa. "Making seedlings available is no problem. To make it a sustainable drive, roping in other groups is a must. But hurry up," says he.

There is renewed interest in planting what used to be called minor fruit plants. Goa's Agriculture Officers' Association (AOA) is working on a new book on these plants.

Catholic priests of the Pilar Society in central Goa are also promoting the jatropha tree, which is seen as a possible bio-fuel solution. Plants are available at Pilar Nature Farm.