By Aparna Menon
Trees play a very important role in protecting the lives of all the other beings that are found around them. All living beings, whether they are plants, animals, birds or human beings; require the help of trees to live a good life. Statistics prove that every one of us humans, requires the protection of 52 trees around us to support us. Most of our activities generate plenty of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases which pollute the atmosphere, it is only trees that can convert these gases into oxygen and help counter the ill effects of the polluting gases generated.
Development is something that is inevitable and is a requirement. Given the huge increase of population in cities in towns, road widening and construction of more houses is a necessity. If a huge tree is present in the middle of the proposed site for development, it has to be removed. “There is no need to cut the tree, it can easily be translocated to a nearby park or garden”, says Mr. Ramachandra, the Managing Director of Green Morning Horticulture Services, in Hyderabad.
The process of trans-location of trees is not new to the world, it has been in practice since 2000 BC. Ancient Egyptian temple pictographs depict men transporting trees, with their roots, in large containers. Records reveal that the Egyptians transported large trees by ships from far away lands to be translocated in Egypt.
Hyderabad was till recently one of the only places, in India, where tree translocation was being done. Now the expertise is being put to practice in parts of Gujarat and Bangalore too. Trees like Pepul, Gulmohar, Neem, Jamun, Mango and other Ficus trees can be easily translocated. Organisations like the Green Morning Horticulture Services have managed to translocated at least 800 trees and 75% of them have successfully survived.
“It is a long process which has to be done very carefully. Once the tree to be translocated is identified, for a whole week it is prepared for the process. The tree is lifted with a crane and the roots are treated with chemicals before they are packed up in gunny bags, making a root ball out of them. The tree with most of its branches cut, is then transported in a trolley to the new place, which is usually a close distance from the original place. The tree is planted in the new trench and for the next couple of months requires close monitoring by us”, adds Mr Ramachandra.
On 5th of June we celebrated World Environment Day. The theme for this year was “Seven Billion Dreams, One Planet, Consume with Care”. We as responsible citizens, must use the natural resources that we have around us judiciously and it is only then that we will be able to leave behind something green for the generations that follow!
Aparna has been a freelance journalist with more than 10 years of experience in writing for various newspapers.
NOTE: Views expressed are the author’s own. Janta Ka Reporter does not endorse any of the views, facts, incidents mentioned in this piece.