By S Paul
That time of the year is here again when all and sundry get filled with enthusiasm to plant a tree or two of their choice. They do not consult the environmentalists or forestry experts to know whether it would be environmentally and ecological suitable to be planted there. Such knowledge is very necessary when planting trees along an avenue or in a park. Do we think that by planting a few Shisham, Neem, Aumla, Peepal, Silver Oak, Rudraksh, some fruit trees, bamboos, etc., in and around our habitats compensates for that loss of acres of green cover in the name of progress or accommodating human habitats?
All this effort and expense that we do on such an unplanned celebration does not restore the balance of nature that we upset by our lust for wealth and comfort. Instead, why haven’t our leaders and volunteers not gone to those denuded spots in the forests and planted the same trees which the nature has already planned for that region in the plains and on mountains in consultation with the forest department and environmentalists? Or is it too much to move out of our comfort zones?
By planting trees, offsetting nature’s design is to grossly upset our ecology. One example is the introduction of the Eucalyptus tree brought from Australia and the havoc it played with our aquifers. Recent posts in various media have also brought to our knowledge about the ill effects of a major Chinese effort to do afforestation of their Gobi desert by planting large swathes of fast growing evergreens without studying the effect on ecological balance of that and adjoining areas. Remember Nature is to be conserved as God has planned it and not to be altered as per our whims and fancies.
It would be very prudent to centrally coordinate this effort involving individual groups, NGOs and government agencies. Just planting trees, as and wherever, should not be allowed. Permission must be sought from the expert forest department and Arboriculture cum Horticulture divisions of the administration. I wonder whether such a system exists at all? I wish that the experts consider filling up the denuded patches of our forests first. Perhaps interspersing our denuded forest patches with fruit bearing trees for the use of birds and other forest animals, who would benefit from such an effort lest they are tempted to visit human habitats to forage from our wastes and become a victim of human-animal conflict, would be right. The birds and fruit/greens dependent animals, if confined to their natural forest habitats, would also support the natural food chain of the animal world and prevent them from venturing out to human habitats. People for Animals should encourage this kind of ‘Harela’. The MDDA and the Municipality should also plan (even if they must undertake some demolitions and rehabilitation) large swathes of spaces in our human habitats for converting into forested parks (for walking/jogging/ lawns for exercises/meditation/cycling and open gyms for all) within thickly habituated areas of the city. Playing of cricket/football, etc., should not be permitted in such parks. Avenue trees are not to be planted under power lines; trees should be of evergreen variety and may flower but not be allowed to rise above three storeys or 30 feet (9metres). Making colourful bougainvillea climb some non-flowering or even flowering avenue trees can add shade, strength and colours to a walkway. Avoid growing isolated fruit trees which attract monkeys, birds and bats; Citrus fruit trees ought to be preferred. We may also consider planting deep rooted trees and shrubs on the slopes of nullahs, gorges and rivulets.
“Clouds came and wept but did not rain; they looked for their friends, the tree: The trees that welcomed them and felt rejuvenated when receiving their beauty treatment free.
The trees that received rains to drink, to wash and absorb the runoff to feed the aquifer: The clouds now weep over the jungles of concrete that do not quite like to be drenched with this blessing of nature.
The clouds weep to see their toil now running off to become sewage, muck laden drainage, choking the natural flows and mixing with the holy waters to create sacrilege.
The clouds wept and wept bitterly to trigger flash floods: That may wash the sinfulness of human habitats.”
