Tree plantation, an incomplete story

How many times are we required to duck under a branch while walking on a footpath or drive around a tree branch in the road? How many times have we really given a thought about why this happens and the remedies required?

   We are far too happy just by planting trees. We probably are not sensitized enough.

(1) Which trees to plant - Which will have more shade to help offer more shadow in our tropical country. Gulmohar tree, for example, looks beautiful during flowering months but has little value for offering shade.

(2) How many of these trees really survive after having planted? Very few.

Trees are invariably planted in rainy season these days. After a rainy season, come months without rain and trees which are still not fully grown need water. Ones in the Municipal areas are little fortunate and are likely to get some intermittent water supply. Part of these and many which are away from habitation perish.

Remaining are either eaten away by stray animals or bent and broken in stormy weather, run over by walking pedestrians or due to various other reasons. We need to have an accounting mechanism and accountability in place to measure and improve their survival rate.

(3) So many trees are allowed to grow as per natural conditions resulting in branching/bending on the roads and footpaths causing a lifelong safety hazard or inconvenience to the passersby. These need to be supported by a tripod and in their initial period of growth and cared like any infant child is cared for.

(4) The job of planting trees and ensuring their survival needs to be entrusted to the road construction companies and should be part of the road contract. This way trees will not be planted in an ad-hoc fashion but will be a part of the drawing/layout of road construction. The help of environmentalist should be taken for choosing the correct tree based on the geographical condition of the area.

(5) Tree plantation targets which are generally political agendas should be backed by tree survival targets and with a greater degree of accountability.