Andhra Pradesh: Community Unites To Protect 140-Year-Old Tree

 Visakhapatnam: A Vriksha Bandhan event was organised on Saturday where women, children, and environmentalists tied rakhis to a 140-year-old tree, chanting slogans for tree conservation. JV Ratnam, the founder- secretary of Green Climate Team NGO, emphasized the importance of protecting trees.

The event was organized for a historic tree planted in 1887 to provide shade to workers during the construction of the Bombay Nagpur railway line, located at the rest house near the railway station.

Datla Subrahmanya Varma, district president of the Nature-Based Farmers Association, stressed the need to protect every tree. He referred to the Bishnoi movement initiated by the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan nearly 290 years ago.

Dr S. Padmavati and Raja Praveen, Botany lecturers, recalled the Chipko movement in 1973 where villagers in Uttarakhand embraced trees to prevent their destruction, and noted that tying a rakhi to an ancient tree symbolizes a commitment to environmental awareness for future generations. She encouraged nationwide participation in similar initiatives.

Ramana Murthy, founder and leader of the Writers Academy, advocated for students to plant 10 saplings each, expressing his enthusiasm for participating in the Vriksha Bandhan programme annually. He highlighted the importance of involving 200 students to ensure lasting benefits for future generations.

Malla Sarita, representing Vanamali Gardening Friends, said in Piplantri, Rajasthan, 111 trees are planted for every girl child born, a practice initiated by Shyam Sundar Paliwal in 2006 to combat female infanticide. This initiative has led to the growth of 286,000 trees over eight years, with parents committing to nurture the saplings and adhere to guidelines regarding marriage and feticide.