Committed to Planting Trees

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

People in Amrita SeRVe villages across India have made planting trees in their communities a high priority. This is because the effects of air and water pollution on both health and crop production are grower ever obvious. Trees can give us many benefits, from cleaning our environment to providing food to eat. 

For example, in Havelikheda, Madhya Pradesh, villagers are planting Aam (Mango), Nimbu (Lemon), Amla (Indian Gooseberry) and Moringa (Drumstrick) throughout the community. In Guptapada, Odisha, people joined efforts this week and together planted 70 new trees in one day.

Tree planting is an important element in the solution to tackle climate change because they absorb carbon dioxide and are vital carbon sinks. Planting trees is quick and cheap plus gives immediate results. A large tree inhales 20.3 kgs of carbon dioxide in a year and exhales enough oxygen for a family of four over that same time span.

Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. They also have a temperature cooling effect on surrounding air.

In terms of food, they can be big suppliers. An apple tree can yield up to 15-20 bushels of fruit per year and can be planted on a small bit of land. Of course, the produce can be easily sold in local markets. Aside from supply for humans, trees obviously provide food for birds and wildlife.

From a different perspective, trees can be both our teachers and our playmates. For many an age, they have given adults both creative and spiritual inspiration, as well as spaces for human retreat. For children, they provide us with beautiful places to play that expand our imaginations and bring us joy.