5 Unique Initiatives That Take Tree Plantation to the Next Level

The increasing need for environmental conservation has become prominent in the past few years. Several organisations have started initiatives to promote environmental welfare, and have targeted one particular group–the youth. Here are five organisations that are bringing environmental awareness to schools across India!

1. Green Yatra

This organisation goes beyond mere tree plantation, to inculcate a sense of responsibility in students across Maharashtra.

They call this program ‘Go Green Kids,’ and provide free saplings to schools, in rural and urban parts of the state. The students then look after the saplings.

Says Founder, Pradeep Tripathi, “Tree plantation is only one part of the process. We regularly check up to see how the trees are doing, and we have a 95 percent survival rate. We eventually want the kids to go home, and teach their parents.”

Green Yatra is planning to expand its operations to schools across India. They have planted 30000 trees across Maharashtra schools.

To get involved you can call: +91 99675 38049 or visit their website here.

You may also like: How People across India Are Using the Internet to Plant Trees and Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

2. Project Green Hands

Established by the Isha Foundation, with the motive of increasing green coverage in Tamil Nadu to 33 percent, Project Green Hands aims to plant 141 million trees across Tamil Nadu, according to the stated goal of the organisation.

They have developed a Green School Movement an initiative which teaches the practical aspects of growing saplings. Instructors provide selected students from across several schools with the seeds, and the technical knowledge of how to take care of a school nursery.

Project Green Hands then gives them 2000 seeds, and through peer-to-peer education, students cultivate mini-forests within the school premises.

The team regularly visits these schools to assess the progress and provide additional assistance if required. According to the organisation, over 920577 trees have been planted across various schools in Tamil Nadu so far.

To know more about Project Green Hands’ initiatives visit their website here.

3. SankalpTaru

Started in 2013, at a school in Barmer, part of the Thar Desert, SankalpTaru’s Clean and Green Schools program is a complete curriculum. It offers students the opportunity to not only plant trees but learn about the environment extensively.

Featuring workshops on kitchen gardens, photosynthesis, water harvesting systems and even popular films, the programme aims to equip the young mind with a proper outlook towards taking care of nature.

The course lasts over 6-8 months and is incorporated alongside regular course material.

“The curriculum is designed in a way to make students better citizens of tomorrow. Our programs, such as upcycling, where we teach students to create using waste, and our eco-clubs, where students take care of a tree in their school have helped them learn about the environment”, says Apurva Bhandari, the founder of the programme.

You may also like: You May Soon Talk to Trees, With Help From This Bengaluru-Based Environmental Organisation

As of now, more than 50,000 trees have been planted, with a 95 percent survival rate. Routine visits are done to ensure that the trees are healthy, and SankalpTaru provides irrigation and water to those areas that do not have it. A recent project, sponsored by Tata Power, aims to bring this program to villages across eight states in India.

To know more, you can visit their website here.

4. SayTrees
Based in Bangalore, SayTrees is an organisation formed by individuals committed to protecting the environment. Volunteers are currently working on a project to bring saplings to schools outside the city.

As part of their initiative, they have tied up with schools in Hosur, and have planted 1,200 trees.

“We want students to be connected with the environment. Our volunteers usually spend a weekend with the students planting trees, and then make fortnightly-visits to see how they are growing”, explains Durgesh Agrahri, Head of Partnership.

They plan to expand and plant over 10,000 trees in the coming months.

SayTrees uses a unique method of planting, known as the Miyawaki technique, which allows the plant to grow faster, and include several varieties. The organisation only plants native saplings, such as peepal, banyan, and mango.

You can get involved by calling +91 90086 59007 or visiting their website here.

5. Siruthuli

Siruthuli has been focused on including students in growing saplings across various campuses. Recently, at Anna University in Tamil Nadu, over 40000 trees were planted across the campus, as part of its new initiative.

Started in 2016, the Seed to Sapling initiative provides students with the soil, manure, and seeds to grow their own saplings.

According to a report by The Hindu, the manure is sourced from farmers in the area.

Currently, the program is operational in over 10 schools in Tamil Nadu, and schools collectively will plant around 2500 trees. Siruthuli aims to plant over 1 lakh trees in the coming months.

To know more visit their website here.

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