11-05-2025
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.
