Freedom For Trees
By Anitha.S
27 September, 2013
Countercurrents.org
Today was Fresher’s day in our college. Our college is one of the prestigious Engineering Colleges in the Thiruvananathapuram City. What made this day special for many of us is the novel thought and idea we tried to implement in the campus. Along with all the usual Fresher’s day events that are repeated year after year, we floated the idea of planting a set of saplings which will grow along with our academic performance and which we can take care of. We have been inspired by the news about the activities of an informal group that has been functioning in the city for a year called Tree Walk- Thiruvananthapuram.
Though we have been reading about the Tree Walk, it was only now that we were able to participate in an action program called FREE THE TREES walk in the Press club area where many trees were being choked by the Tree guards installed to protect them. Some of us decided to attend as it was evening time and we were free. We have been also reading about the rampant cutting of full grown or young trees in the city in the name of either road widening or safety to passersby and vehicles. We read about the way in which the identification of danger tree is being done not by a competent professional or scientist but by people who have other vested interests. We have been shocked by the negligence of decision makers who also fall prey to the pressure tactics of a few politicians who mislead the public and also do not gather their opinion. It was all this along with our own feelings for the trees that made us participate in the program.
The group was small- maybe less than 50, but they showed a single minded focus on what they had set out for. There were students from other professional colleges, Teacher Training Institutes and Scientific Institutions in the city. Having informed the Corporation and also the Press Club about their move to remove the Tree guards, they were confident. Armed with some cutters and pliers, gloves and sacks, the first tree guard was being removed when we reached. It was definitely not an easy task. But we were infused by the enthusiasm and the deeper message we were conveying through this. The trees in this stretch, a combination of African Tulips and Ficus benjamina were young and lush with very many more years of growth if protected well. The metal rungs of the guards had eaten into the bark and branches of many. Apart from this the tree bases were littered with plastic and bottles too.
We were glad to see that there were many young people including girls in the group who were doing their role, some with notices, others with the banner, another collecting signatures and contacts and others with ideas. A young Tree Walker appeared with a big implement which made the task really easy. Some pitched in by removing waste, a pair of gloves appeared from somewhere in time to protect our hands as we collected the bottles and plastic. We were able to identify the real factors that makes a tree vulnerable and unsafe. Apart from the deformed growth due to tree guards, the base of the tree and its roots often are unable to provide support to the growing tree as they are under concrete, tar or tiles. The branches of the trees are cut in a haphazard manner that affects the stability of trees making them topple over. The burning of waste under the trees also affects the health of the roots. The nailing of advertisements and flex boards on tree bark will make the tree susceptible to insect attack in later stages causing breaking of branches and at times tree fall itself. Obviously such an assessment shows that all the above factors can be controlled and the tree made safe. It is so easy to cut a tree, but to plant, nurture and grow them to adulthood requires as much time and thought as being with a human child.
The loss of more than 10-20,000 trees in recent times in Trivandrum city for road development and widening has been appearing regularly in the media. Though promises and statements have been made about replacing each tree lost with 10 others, we hardly see it anywhere. And whatever has been planted are species unsuited for our climatic conditions. Tree Walk did have an exhibition of posters along a road where trees were cut called Time To Plant- Plant to plant that showed the trees and plants suited for our roads and pavements. We suffered under the sweltering heat this summer as mercury rose. In many areas there are sharp evidences that prove that there is a difference of more than 4 degree centigrade under and out of tree shade. As we read literature on Climate Change, we come across the term Heat Island Effect which is happens when concrete and buildings replace trees and soil. The role of open spaces like parks and playfields which also absorb heat and cool the air has been proven. We are really anxious when we see the way this small city of ours is expanding and bursting at the seams. And the biggest price is being paid by trees and footpaths.
We wonder if places like Kerala will also need data like developed nations to understand the value of trees and greenery. Do we need hard inanimate numbers as we prefer to stand under the shade of the huge Ficus on the verge of being axed as a danger tree soon to feel that trees impact positively on microclimate and reduces temperature? Have we not felt the tree transpire and tree canopies absorb radiation, regulate humidity and create a balanced coolness under it? What data will help us realize that the Neem Trees and the shining foliage of the Pongamia in many parts of this city are taking in air pollutants and intercepting air borne particles making a better place for our children to grow in, less sick and weary? Do we need to go the New York way where removing of healthy full grown trees increased the cost of removal of air pollutants to improve the Health of Citizens by 70 times causing an annual loss to the budget? As engineers and students of architecture we are concerned about the use of materials like glass and steel in the construction of high rises all of which will increase the energy demands and create heat and wind eddies in local zones leading to unsuitable conditions for living? A tree near a building is known to bring down the artificial energy needs of the rooms by lowering temperature, blocking winds that cause dryness but increasing coolness by transpiration.
These are our thoughts after having been part of the FREE THE TREE campaign of Tree Walk which was a successful attempt to save full grown trees in a healthy state in the city. As we parted we read the lines from William Blake quoted in the hand out being distributed “ The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others a green thing that stands in the way” . We feel that there has to be more and more tear filled eyes looking at trees because only such human minds will see the tears in others too. Our small step to sow a seed of hope in the new comers in the College will hopefully take root soon.
Anitha.S in conversation with Sanid, Nithish, Praveen, Vinayak, Shyamjith, Vivek, Teresa, Lekshmi,Parvathy, Shihas, Jinu, Ansi and Priyanka on 25th September, 2013 during and after the FREE THE TREES walk.
For details of Tree Walk- Thiruvananthapuram contact sarmaji1916@gmail .com or befriend Face book Tree Walk – Thiruvananthapuram.
Photos By Suresh Elamon
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