We Can help the skewed Climate but look for help which Never Arrives..

We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. - David Brower.

Courtesy: Unsplash. Picture by Abhijeet Parmar. Banyan Tree with Secondary roots. This tree lives for many centuries.

Prologue

Military, at least in our nation, not only readies itself to defend the beloved motherland... it is involved in improving its eco-environment... with equal diligence. And we never make much hullabaloo of it.

We, a few thousand of us, over three decades ago, were plonked in a new ‘Military Station!’ in the deserts of Western India. Not a blade of grass to cover our heads with. Precious few quasi-permanent barracks to live in.

We planted trees of all kinds, after discussions with local experts. In tens of thousand. Survival rate of nearly 96% was ensured. ‘Each soldier - one tree’. And he shall never let it wilt.

Today it is a green oasis. As I saw recently on the Google Earth.

That entire over 2,500 acres of real estate is covered with local acacia, neem, peepal and many varieties of large and small canopy trees and shrubs. Including fruit bearing trees which had never grown there...

Ever before.

I cannot say what effect it has made to the climatic conditions obtaining there. But, it has at least become much more habitable.

And it is just one out of hundreds of such examples. No tall claims/slogans of ‘Save the Earth’ made... by anyone. Just some quiet work in the service of the Mother Earth. By thousands in uniform... whose primary task is entirely different.

The Peepal Tree just at the entrance of The Angkor Wat. It is believed to have been planted when the Temple was Consecrated. Picture by me in December 2016.

Three Trees: The Ecological Powerhouses

If we can not curb explosion of the Air Contitioners, we can at least take actions which can counter some of its ill-effects.

Our Holy scriptures have said this about the three trees namely ‘Neem (Azadirachta indica)’, ‘Peepal (Ficus religiosa or sacred fig)’ and ‘Banyan (Ficus Benghalensis)’…one must plant at least one Banyan and five Peepal Trees in a lifetime, and one Neem in each home... this for better environment.

These three trees are essential for our environment because they possess the unique ability to sequester ‘Carbon dioxide (CO2)’ from the environment.

Unfortunately and for a variety of inexplicable reasons, we seem to have fallen in favour of decorative trees/shrubs and forgotten these three trees even in India which has a tradition of their usage in traditional medicines.

Reasons for Benefits of these trees

1. These are the trees with large leaves and massive/dense canopies as compared to the most other varieties.
2. High Leaf Area Index, thereby lending greater intake of CO2 per tree. Though out of these three trees, Neem has much smaller leaves, but owing to its density the effect is that much enhanced.
3. Their Large Biomass Factor (the trunk and branches, and the secondary roots in the case of the Banyan Tree) allows these trees to hold carbon for centuries.
4. Peepal is a 100% absorber of CO2, Banyan has 80% capability and Neem is an astounding 75% absorber of CO2 which comes in their contact.

Courtesy: Unsplash. Neem Tree Picture by Rahul Mishra.

There are Shlokas in the Sanskrit which bring forth the significance of these three trees. This fact was recognised in ancient times by the erudite sages who knew what is good for humanity. What will be good for them even in the future times.

Epilogue

We will speak, write and even organise public events in fancy places to draw attention of those in power & positions of authority. But, if we honestly look within, how many of us and where have we taken that one small step to save the environment!

What is needed is just to pick up a tiny sapling of a Neem, a Peepal or a Banyan Tree and plant in our Society, Condominium, in our backyard or any place where we can.

Unfortunately, we are not doing enough and only looking upto the governmental intervention, which may come forth. May Not!

Call for action... the first step is to be taken by... You. Me. All of us. Not by any ‘Environmental Activist’.

And it is not enough to write an article on Medium and receive claps. Our effort has to be more tangible. Because we are a large & influencial group which is much more aware than many and the one which can make substantial contribution.

For our children!

Personally speaking, I have done it many times over.

QED!