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The Hindu
30-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Initiative to identify heritage trees in Mysuru
Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) and Mysore Eco Footprints have jointly launched a citizens' initiative to identify heritage trees in Mysuru. A statement from MGP convenor Sanjay Dattatri said the objective of the exercise is to identify iconic trees in various parts of the city with the help of local residents and help protect them. Author of the book, Iconic Trees of India, S. Natesh has provided guidelines for identifying heritage trees. 'The criteria include age, size, historical importance, religious significance, cultural importance or association with a significant event', the statement said. The initiative aims to 'create awareness about these remarkable living beings that have existed for decades or even centuries, serving as silent witnesses to human progress', the statement noted. Those who are interested in participating in the activity or anyone who knows of such a tree in their locality can contact Mysore's Eco Footprints on 8433553734.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Expert flags flaws in compensatory afforestation policy
The existing policy of approving tree-felling at a project site and approving compensatory afforestation elsewhere came in for criticism by a tree expert, here on Sunday. S. Natesh, a botanist who retired as a senior advisor in the Department of Biotechnology, government of India, said that the practice was scientifically flawed, though it is promoted by the Forest Department of various States and even the courts approve it. Raising serious concerns about the practice, Dr. Natesh, who is also the author of 'Iconic Trees of India', questioned the logic behind felling fully grown, decades-old trees in the name of development and attempting to offset the damage by planting saplings elsewhere. 'A tree that is 80 or 100 years old cannot simply be replaced by planting ten or even a hundred saplings,' said Dr. Natesh. The ecological value, carbon sequestration capacity, and biodiversity support provided by such old trees are incalculable. To derive the same benefit as that of the trees that are felled, the saplings have to mature into trees, provided they survive, he added. He also criticised the practice of compensating for tree loss in one location by afforesting a distant area, calling it a flawed strategy that fails to address local ecological imbalances. His remarks are significant in view of the Forest Department's plan to plant 400 saplings for the 40 trees felled on the Hyder Ali Road. But the Forest Department authorities have stated that not all saplings will be planted in one area due to space constraints. The issue is of immediate significance to Mysuru as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sought clearance for the diversion of 137.5 acres of forest for the Mysuru-Kushalnagar highway. In all, 691 trees will be felled in Mysuru district, but the compensatory afforestation will take place in Bhutanala village in the Vijayapura district. Conservation activist Giridhar Kulkarni has questioned such a practice and written to the authorities, pointing out that compensatory afforestation far away from the project site will not address local ecological degradation or compensate for the immediate environmental loss caused by the felling of mature trees.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Action plan suggested to make Mysuru a model city for tree conservation
Peeved by the recent felling of 40 trees for road widening which resulted in public outrage, environmentalists have come together to float an action plan to make Mysuru a model city for tree conservation. As a prelude to it, a meeting was convened here on Sunday by the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) and S. Natesh, a tree expert who retired as a senior advisor in the Department of Biotechnology, government of India, came up with short, medium, and long-term measures that should be initiated for tree conservation. Dr. Natesh, who is also the author of 'Iconic Trees of India', called for bringing together all stakeholders under a common platform, involving scientists, teachers, students, landscape architects, legal experts on environmental law, etc. He suggested that once such a platform was created, it was imperative to create environmental awareness through a sustained series of activities involving the general public. Dr. Natesh also called for harnessing the potential of social media influencers to spread the message of conservation and get the public involved in larger numbers. As part of the action plan, Dr. Natesh called for a targeted educational campaign in schools and colleges, cultural programmes like street plays and dance-dramas. The focus of the campaign should be to highlight the vital role of trees in sustaining life and preserving ecological balance, he added. Drawing from the example of Uttarkhand, where people tied coloured threads and vowed to protect the trees, Dr. Natesh said it evolved into the Rakshasutra movement, and a similar evocative nomenclature could be thought of, which would resonate powerfully among the local people. 'I envisage public participation in thousands to send a strong message that people are serious about tree conservation,' he said. The other suggestions included declaring old and large trees as heritage trees and evolve the concept of tree tourism around them so as to enhance the green heritage of Mysuru. Creating a digitised registry of iconic trees of Mysuru, appointing tree wardens in every locality to ensure their safety and continuous monitoring of their health etc. to ensure community participation in tree protection were a few other proposals made during the meeting. Calling for organising Mysuru Tree Festival, Dr. Natesh cited the example of similar events being held in other parts of the world and said that it was one way of celebrating trees and ensure their protection. The organisers said that through these multifaceted efforts, it was possible to position Mysuru as a model for tree conservation. Bhamy V. Shenoy, founding president, MGP, representatives of various NGOs, environmentalists, etc., were among those present.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
MGP to convene meeting to evolve strategies to prevent tree-felling on Sunday
Consequent to the felling of 40 giant trees for road widening in the city recently and the public outrage over it, the city-based NGO Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has convened a meeting to evolve strategies for tree conservation. The meeting is scheduled for Sunday from 4 p.m., and it will be held at the MGP office at 6/1, Vivekananda Road, Yadavgiri. Botanist S. Natesh, who is the author of the book, Iconic Trees of India, published in 2024, will take part in the meeting and come out with suggestions on how best the citizens can come together on a common platform to prevent tree-felling. The spotlight on tree conservation comes in the wake of what environmentalists are calling the 'murder' of over 40 trees that were over 40 years old, along the Hyder Ali Road, in April. The incident sparked outrage and resulted in widespread protests in the city, and activists also responded with a slew of actions, including a candlelight vigil, replanting drives, online petitions, and formal complaints to the Chief Minister, Lokayukta, National Green Tribunal, and the Deputy Commissioner. People's Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL), Mysuru chapter, also wrote to the Minister for Forests, Ecology, and Environment, Eshwar Khandre, to amend the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, in a bid to strengthen tree protection. A crowd-funded exercise also saw the transplantation of a giant tree which had collapsed near the Kukkarahalli lake embankment, underlining increasing public involvement on issues related to environment. Though the Minister, on his part, ordered an inquiry into the incident and sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner, there are concerns that nearly 300 more trees have been marked for felling to pave the way for linear projects such as drawing high tension cables or broadening the existing roads. The MGP said ahead of the event that tree-felling should be the last resort, only after exploring all alternatives for preservation. The group hopes that Sunday's meeting will serve as a platform to build a collective voice against unnecessary deforestation in Mysuru. Dr. Natesh, a retired senior advisor from the Department of Biotechnology of the government of India, will lead the session. It may be noted that a plant species, Aponogeton nateshii, has been named after him. For additional information on the meeting, contact 0821-2515150.
