By: Priyanka Saurabh
Every year on ‘World Environment Day’ we plant trees, get photographs taken, but one question remains unanswered – are the trees planted last year still alive?
Tree plantation has now become merely a show-off event, in which responsibility has become secondary and publicity has become primary.
There is a need for “tree keeping”, in which every plant becomes our responsibility. Going beyond words, if every citizen takes care of a plant throughout the year, then greenery will return not only to posters but also to the ground. Celebrate Environment Day not for photos, but for the future.
Today, when we talk about Environment Day, the first scene that comes to mind is – some people standing with a lush green plant, not a spade or a bucket of water in their hands, but a mobile camera. There is less enthusiasm on their faces to save the environment, and more of a smile in the picture. Environment Day has now become a ‘selfie day’ – not of planting a tree, but of uploading a photo.
But the question is, did you take any news of the plants planted last year?
Or did they just become part of a “Facebook post”?
Through this article, I want to raise a serious and important question – have we seen tree planting as an opportunity and not as a responsibility? And has greenery remained only in photos?
Greenery: Increased in figures, decreased on the ground
Every year, governments claim that lakhs of trees were planted. Big statistics are presented that the forest area increased, trees were planted in so many thousands of hectares. But the question is, how many of those lakhs of trees survived?
The truth is that plants planted without care, without irrigation, without protection do not become part of the forest, but get mixed with the soil.
But we consider them greener in statistics.
Concern for the environment does not go beyond photos
In modern society, concern for the environment lasts only as long as it can be publicised. As soon as the camera is turned off, our responsibility also ends.
Today, tree plantation has become an event for every public institution, school, office, even for leaders and officials, in which one gets ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ but the roots do not grow.
You planted a tree last year, did you name it? Did you visit it once a month?
No, right?
Because we captured tree plantation in a photo frame and did not adopt it as a part of life.
Tree farming is needed, not tree planting
In our Puranas, in our culture, and even in the cycle of life, the importance of trees has been stated to be supreme.
A human being can be born under a Peepal tree, education is received under the shade of Banyan tree and even the last journey takes place with the help of a wood.
Yet we neglect trees after use.
Every year crores of rupees are spent on planting trees, but not on their conservation. We need tree husbandry, not tree plantation.
Destruction in the name of development
In cities, big trees are cut down in the name of ‘development’ – roads have to be widened, malls have to be built, power lines have to be laid.
The administration says – “We will plant two trees in place of one.”
But do those two plants get enough space?
Don’t nets climb on them?
Does anybody water them?
Nature has been excluded from the definition of development, and it has now become merely a formality.
Greenery in schools – limited to competitions only
On Environment Day, many speech competitions, painting and essay writing are organised in schools.
Children recite poems on “Importance of Trees”.
But did any school ensure that the plant planted by the children was cared for throughout the year?
Was it ever written in the children’s progress magazine that “Abhijeet took care of the banyan tree”?
No, because for us planting trees is a test question, not a part of life.
Same thing every year – then what is the solution?
We all know that trees are the basis of rain, climate, oxygen and life cycle.
But we become alert only on ‘5th June’.
So what is the solution?
One person – one plant – care for one year Government, schools and panchayats should make this campaign compulsory.
Give priority to local trees. Trees like Peepal, Neem, Drumstick, Mango, Ber, Banyan tree are more useful and durable.
Each plant should be given an identification number (code) so that it can be monitored. There should be a ‘tree-keeping competition’ in schools
And the progress of the students should be added to their reports. Under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), not only plantation of trees but their survival rate should also be made mandatory. Post the responsibility along with the photo that ‘I will water it throughout the year’.
A mental change is necessary
Unless we accept trees as the right of nature and consider ourselves its protectors, no government scheme, no campaign will be of any use.
Do you remember the plant you planted last year, where is it now?
If you don’t know – then before planting it next time, take a pledge that you will also become its protector.
This is necessary now
Environment Day is not just a date, it is consciousness.
Trees are not just wood, they are life.
Plantation is not just a program, it is an emotional bond.
This year don’t just say ‘plant a tree’,
Rather say – “I will make it a tree.”
