TREE-PLANTING TO WARD OFF GLOBAL WARMING

Seed collection

There are three aspects of a  seed%u2019s Seeding-  sprouting  phase before seed is  left to be caressed by Mother earth%u2019s warmth  for  raising it as a Sapling

1)Seed Collection

2) Seed  Preservation

3)Seed  Propagation

%u201CAll the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today%u201D. I read this today.There are many people who  collect seeds. But they restrict to Fruit %u2013bearing and Flower-bearing  species. Even the  regular markets do not provide seeds of   avenue trees. The Avenue  Tree seeds have to be physically picked up from the road-sides under the Mother Trees. For a very good Road-side  ,to contain the Ever-increasing pollution  caused due to Tatas.Fords , Suzukis and Hyundais and what have you---there should be a Good row of Avenue trees. Unless, citizens themselves decide to  plant road-side Avenue  trees, there is no  shelter and shade for a poor-odd pedestrian who walks the way.The cuckoos will not have place to perch.There are a good many  Vehicle-owners who look for shade for parking their Cars; but look the other way for planting Trees

Many people unknowingly enjoy the services provided by the tree, standing in one place. Has anybody appreciated and quantified the Services rendered by a Tree%u2014Yes, thanks to Prof. T.M.Das  of the University of Michigan. He has give the uses of / Value of the services rendered by a tree which has lived for  50  Years as  follows

%u201CA tree is worth $196,250.00, according to Professor T.M. Das of the University of Calcutta. A tree living for 50 years will generate $31,250 worth of oxygen, provide $62,000 worth of air pollution control, control soil erosion and increase soil fertility to the tune of $31,250, recycle $37,500 worth of water and provide a home for animals worth $31,250. This figure does not include the value of the fruits, lumber or the beauty derived from the presence of trees. Just another sensible reason to take care of our trees and participate in Arbor Day planting programs locally.

In short, trees are good for the soul, good for the ecology, and good for the economy%u201D

This Information is  collected from Internet. I have also  noticed   this outside the Butterfly Enclosure in Singapore Zoo, , On the basis of even Rs 40 per US $,this is working out to Rs 78,50,000---a mere  SEVENTY EIGHT LAKHS,FIFTY THOUSAND RUPEES  only.

All this is extra ,in addition to the Value of the Timber and the refreshing feeling of walking under the green-wood  tree., on a Sunny day.

SEED COLLECTION

Having understood the Value of a Tree,why not help Mother earth  regenerate the Services provided by  Her through Trees  by making the initial start  of Seed %u2013collection. In the not-so-busy Retired life, Senior Citizens ,like me,can take  this as a Hobby and cherish their contribution to  all the Living beings by simply pumping Oxygen to the atmosphere. Even 24/7 busy bees can  unwind  their worries by resorting to this hobby on holidays .;why not join some NGOs doing this with passion and spread their messages.

SEED PRESERVATION

Once the passion is generated, you have to preserve the seeds collected. But why? The availability of Seeds is seasonal..They have a Shelf-Life to  enable them encounter  the exacting conditions which they generally face.The planting of seeds is NOT done when the Sun is scorching in a tropical weather.We want to wait till the month of August/ November depending on the Monsoon pattern / and Rainfall to  enable watch the seeds sprout happily.They may happily sprout on the roadsides  under the shade of a Tree. Please replicate  the same conditions in your Nursery%u2014Create a Nursery if you do not have one.Provide congenial shade for them to grow.The soil is a living entity . It houses millions of beneficial micro-organisms and it requires to be nurtured ,fed ,cared for and looked after; please apply some farm-manure and dried leaves (or Humus)and/or simple kitchen waste; Sprinkle water.The Soil for your Nursery is ready. The reason why roadside saplings fail to take off is that they do not get the nourishment and the cozy care which we can provide with some effort. You can start planting the Road-side Saplings  in  your  Nursery and see them pick up fast. Please water regularly in the mornings.

Coming back to the Seeds, you can dry the seeds in the morning Sun in a shady place and pack them in Airy cotton/ jute Sachets . We have to allow them for their breathing., since they are life-manifest. Please avoid moist conditions where they can start sprouting immediately and spontaneously.(Even thse saplings can be nurtured). Seeds can be thus preserved for upto 2 years in this process which is good enough a time frame for  amateur Tree-lovers..

SEED PROPAGATION

Even  ardent  enthusiasts  of  tree-planting do not know where to get the seeds.Since the mature         trees%u2019 saplings have to be planted with a spacing of  10Feet or more while finally transplanting , they occupy more space for a healthy growth. You can send it to the friends interested in planting trees or give them(the  seeds ) to the Forest Depts/ Corporations for raising their Nurseries. Take a trip to any Hill-top on a Rainy day and plant with the soil -mix. You can do it alone or in company of youth/ children for whom it will be an education and an inspiration. When you go for picnic to the rural areas/pilgrimage to temples, please make sure to carry your treasure of seeds and give away for planting  .In the cities ,empty space is being marketed  by human greed and  peoples%u2019 monarchs. Only the villages still provide  space for tree-planting.

For Senior citizens like me ,cute grand-children provide activity and curiosity support and give a helping hand. They are also trained to be Eco-friendly.  So buy a spade and start off immediately to postpone the ill-effects of  GLOBAL -WARMING