Despite the mid-summer blaze and sweltering heat on a humid June morning, hundreds of Rotarians and Rotaractors from RID 3234 armed with shovels and saplings displayed a jubilant mood as they planted 15,000 trees to mark Word Environment Day, June 5. A series of small dugouts was prepared in advance for the planting drive on a 48-acre plot at the University of Madras’ Taramani campus. But unperturbed by the cruel heat, dirt and sweat, the group of Rotarians and Rotaractors continued planting in a spirt of cheer and togetherness.
Project Amrit Vanam is a grand mission to develop an urban forest at this famed ‘IT corridor of Chennai’. In a two-hour drive, they planted fruit-bearing trees, creepers, shrubs, tropical and wild species, in a mood of conviviality and bonding celebrating Rotary bonhomie. “All the 86 clubs of RID 3234 are being led by their presidents to create a wonderful urban forest which will act as the lungs of the city. They are also joined by Rotaractors to transform this barren land into a beautiful ecosystem,” said DG Vinod Saraogi. He thanked DGND Ravi Sundaresan, district environment chair, for “working tirelessly and coordinating with the sponsor clubs to make the greening drive a mega success.”
He was happy to take part in this Rotary tree planting drive, the first of many programmes and events scheduled to mark the special day, said Tamil Nadu’s minister for environment and climate change V K Rajeev, a doctor Rotarian from RC East Coast Ramnad, RID 3212. Recalling his days as a Rotaract president at Dr Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Chidambaram, he said, “While it is noteworthy that Rotary is creating a dense urban forest, we also have to create awareness on the need to avoid single-use plastic in our daily life.” Pointing to the vinyl flex board behind the podium, he said, “in future instead of such harmful banners, use cloth boards and eco-friendly hoardings.”
We are transforming a barren land into a green ecosystem that will improve air quality, enhance biodiversity, and reduce carbon emissions for a lasting environmental legacy.
— DGND Ravi Sundaresan
project chair
A pollution-free TN is one of the objectives of the new government, said Rajeev, and told Rotarians to take up awareness campaigns on the proper segregation of bio and non-bio waste for recycling, “which will go a long way in ensuring a healthier society.” He assured DG Saraogi and the clubs that the state government “will support all the environment-
friendly initiatives of Rotary to make Tamil Nadu a frontrunner in sustainable progress.” As many as 13 ruling party MLAs are Rotarians, of them five were inducted as ministers.
A gift for GenNext
Event chair DGND Sundaresan said, “the urban forest is being created using a scientific planting method for long-term ecological impact. We are transforming a barren land into a green ecosystem that will improve air quality, enhance biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions and create a lasting environmental legacy.” A private-public-partnership model is followed with the involvement of Rotary, Madras University and the Green Tamil Nadu Mission in the creation of this forest on the varsity campus; and “the model project can be adopted for replication across the state and by other RI districts.”
Apart from supporting climate action, the new forest “will create a long-term green legacy for future generations as it will also help in reducing carbon footprints, improve air quality through oxygen generation, and conserve biodiversity.”
CommuniTree founder Hafiz Khan, an expert in urban forestry, guided around 600 Rotarians and Rotaractors in planting the saplings. “To begin with, we are creating a 400-metre tree tunnel, which will be extended to 2km once the forest is fully developed,” said Khan. After completion, the “tree tunnel will be one of the largest such urban covers in the country,” he said with pride. His NGO team has planted 1.8 million trees across states, designed oxygen detox zones for high-rise residential societies, and is known for its pioneering work in turtle conservation.
After the creation of the urban forest, the tree tunnel will be one of the largest such urban covers in the country.
— Hafiz Khan
founder, CommuniTree
DRR Sathish Kumar said, “we are creating a new ecosystem which will give a sense of belonging to over 300 Rotaractors from 72 Rotaract clubs taking part in the mega planting drive.” As most of them are college goers, “very soon many of them will be employed in the IT corridor running along this route. And they can take justifiable pride in creating this urban forest while commuting on this stretch of the IT highway after they get employed in any one of these tech companies,” he said.
Prof S Armstrong, member, Vice Chancellor Convener Committee, Madras University, said that climate, nature and future are the “three watch words for the younger generation, and the Madras University is one of the few higher institutions in the country that has such a vast campus for advanced research in basic medical sciences. We are happy to collaborate with Rotary and the government.”
CommuniTree will nurture the saplings for the next three years, during which a geo-tagged quarterly report will be sent to RID 3234 clubs, and shared with the Rotary Foundation India. “In July-August, another 50,000 saplings will be planted on the same 48-acre campus, and a strong compound fence will be raised to protect and nurture the trees,” said Sundaresan.
Project Amrit Vanam, costing ₹42 lakh, is sponsored by RCs Madras, Madras Central, Chennai Carnatic and Chennai Renaissance, and is supported by 12 sister clubs of RID 3234. Rotarians and Rotaractors took a World Environment Day pledge, with Hafiz Khan reading out the oath citation.
Pictures by Muthukumaran