Back to Live Problems - Main Section Planting MORE Trees. Grow Grass, Go Green.

“That's a big tree they are cutting down. I wonder what’s the problem.” one of the persons waiting at the bus stop could not help commenting. In fact almost everyone at the stop was looking at the tree-chopping crowd with a mixture of distaste, anger and helplessness. “Oh, it’s the usual reason. See that hoarding over the building there? Seems our green friend was blocking it big time. So one of them had to go,” another one said matter-of-factly. He shrugged his shoulders and boarded the bus.

This is not an imaginary scene but a frequent enough incident in big cities. Big trees are chopped down for a variety of reasons – for blocking the advertisement billboards, to make way for a widening road or to clear out the space for a proposed construction. And no one is thinking of repairing the damage which though not apparent immediately, in a few years down the train it will be staring us straight into the face. Are we going to wait for that to happen with folded hands?

Even knee-high kids know that trees help increase the rainfall. With an ever-increasing population and its incessant water requirement, we cannot afford to lose out on that. More and more cars are daily joining the already congested traffic while old rickety cabs continue to belch smoke. We cannot expect a magic wand to purify the air. We need trees. We need to guard each and every tree standing and we need to plant more. If we don’t stand up now to do something about this, the barren earth depicted in Sci-Fi movies will become a reality. Do it for yourself, do it for your children’s sake. Plant more trees!!

Steps:

1) Plant trees in you apartment complex and in your locality on every inch of unused space. Take turns to care for them. They need air and sunlight that are supplied by nature and won’t cost you anything. All that they will ever ask of you is soil, water and some care. Surely for what they do for you, you can give them as much.

2) Trees can be planted alongside pavements. The residents and shop-owners can take turns to water and maintain them regularly. They should be fenced in with simple wooden structures to prevent them from stray animals and cattle.

3) Citizen groups can adopt little traffic Islands (the triangular area in the middle of the road) and plant decorative trees and lush green grass there.

4) Rocks don’t cost much, do they? With a little imagination and creativity little rock gardens can be created around these trees.

5) At home, the water used to wash or soak rice, dal and vegetables should be used to water the plants. It boosts their growth.

6) Do something different this year on a marriage anniversary or a birthday of a loved one. Make him or her plant a tree and take care of it.

7) Don't waste your money on gifting a bouquet for a birthday. Make a gift of a plant in a clay pot.Your loved one will remember you everytime he or she waters the plant.

Check out our primer on planting more trees.