Dr Tasaduq Hussain Itoo
I personally would feel emulated to have many tree-talk sharings with the then Director Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing J & K, Mr. OM Prakash Vidyarthi Ji . It has always been a moment of fascination while getting fascinated with the honourable sir’s in-depth knowledge and naturalistic creative ideology that he has nurtured on plant world. We used to have immense discussions on Climate change, Eco-tourism, Biodiversity conservation, Environmental Sanitation with special reference to sustainable use of indigenous plant species. Searching of plants having medicinal importance were thoroughly put in talks and many more species having food-value, tea-value and other uses were core in discussions.
Introduction: The surroundings, in which we find ourselves, ought to be very important to us, because it tells a story to others about how we live and how comfortable we are in the said place. Therefore it is of utmost importance to leave a good impression regarding how we care for our surroundings. Keeping your environment clean could be likened to your personal hygiene. Trees and plants are one of the main reasons why we are alive on this earth. They provide the life giving oxygen without which our survival on this planet is simply impossible. Besides this, there are various other benefits of planting trees.
A Mission Of Tree Talks : As we might be aware that a green initiative took its birth by the year 2010 under the theme “Tree Talks”. Mr. Om Prakash Vidyarthi , an Indian Forest Service Officer , green innovator, botanist and passionate environmentalist put forward this theme in an august gathering in the greenery lawns of Jammu University Botanical Garden in the year 2010 .The theme got transformed into an innovative campaign and then into a Movement after public joined in crowds with a sense to save their environment and make it more green . Under this missionary theme of “Tree Talks” , the sole aim of this Movement is to sensitize people about the benefits of planting trees and engage them in doing so. Numerous people supporting this cause have joined hands to make Jammu and Kashmir greener and are working in this direction. Those working with this movement plant trees to spread greenery. From time to time they also run campaigns to encourage more and more people to do so. Under this mission, they have been conducting frequent tree talks across the corner and as many as 650 of such sessions have been successfully conducted so far since its inception. We can plant trees in our nearby area to support the cause. However, if we want to bring about a major difference, we must join this Public Movement to work on a large scale. I personally would feel emulated to have many tree-talk sharings with the then Director Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing J & K,Mr. OM Prakash Vidyarthi Ji . It has always been a moment of fascination while getting fascinated with the honourable sir’s in-depth knowledge and naturalistic creative ideology that he has nurtured on plant world. We used to have immense discussions on Climate change,Eco-tourism, Biodiversity conservation, Environmental Sanitation with special reference to sustainable use of indigenous plant species. Searching of plants having medicinal importance were thoroughly put in talks and many more species having food-value, tea-value and other uses were core in discussions.
I remember two of such tree talk anniversaries. One was conducted on the auspicious occasion of Festival of Spring (Vasant Panchmi) inside Natural Heritage Interpretational Centre(NHIC),Environmental Park, Raika Jammu. The event was organized as a 400th tree-talk green interactive session by the Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing J & K.The chief guest on the occasion was then Divisional Commissioner Jammu,Dr.Pawan Kotwal(IAS). The event was enormously participated by the students from science background of Parade College, Gandhi Nagar Jammu and others. More to say ,the session was embraced with cultural skits by students and soul-touch speeches from various dignitaries, immensely emphasizing on “Tree Phenology & Climate Change”. Climate Change poses a great challenge in the current times encompassing drastic variations in various ecological phenomena. Sea-level rise, global temperature rise, erratic precipitation, water-bodies acidification and other extreme events indicate climate change as a global threat. So in order to persuade and sensitize our current generation towards environmental conservation, these programmes need to be frequently endorsed.The second I remember was celebrated as 5th Tree-Talk Foundation day inside the Botanical Garden green lawns of Jammu University. It was an amazing day to re-instill sense of environmentalism among green-friends. The chief guest on the occasion was then Chief Secretary J & K,Mr.B.R.Sharma(IAS).The event was further acknowledged by Registrar Jammu University,Prof.(Dr.)Kashyup Sharma,HoD Botany Prof.(Dr.)Yashpal Sharma,HoD Environmental Sciences and various other dignitaries. The celebration event was immensely glorified with 392 tree-talk session, environmental skit, including interaction talks on various climate change and environmental issues. It was in basic a moment of inter-professional collaboration and togetherness to guide towards environmental sanitation, conservation of biodiversity, planting of indigenous plant species of human value and morale.Environmental awareness campaigns are as much important because environmental health is directly or indirectly related to health of every living being. Epidemiology also dictates a triad of Environment, Agent and Host. These three components of the triad are dependent upon each other in progression of a disease. So while the basic component ‘Environment’ is safe, there is zero chance of any development of a pathological agent. No Host then .Government must support non-profit organizations and other public Movements like ” Tree Talks” to help them propagate their noble messages of importance of planting trees and saving our environment. Planting trees would never be enough if they are cut ruthlessly at a rapid pace. People must be sensitized about the importance of planting more trees by emphasizing on their benefits. The propagation of the same can be done by way of radio, television, newspapers, social media, hoardings and leaflets. The problem right now is that even though many people want to work in this direction however they do not know the right means to contribute their bit. It is also a good idea to teach the students about the importance of planting trees from the very beginning. Educational institutes can take the initiative to plant trees by engaging their students in the task from time to time.In conclusion, I would infer that it is high time we realize how important trees are for our environment as well as our social and economic well being. Each one of us must take it as a responsibility to plant trees and save environment in whatever way to make our planet a better place to live.
( The author is Director Jammu & Kashmir Innovative Foundation For Transforming Society, a medical practitioner, and a motivational speaker. Views are his own [email protected])
