Quarterly News Letter from Eco Club - July-2010
From the Editor Dear Friends At the outset let me Thank all the members who have joined us a year back to initiate this Green project for our city Bengaluru. Our journey last year has has been showcased in this edition. The journey we have planned was ambitious but with the encouragement and our sponsors support we do intend to make a difference to this city. The project at Bangalore University where we promised to plant 10,000 trees has been completed and we now do wish to see them blossom and sustain the weather. The Jayanagar model Park is now nearing completion and the First phase shall be inaugurated in the Month of July.Second Phase shall be done completed by September. Our intra city seminar to encourage citizens to participate in the civic management for our city, was met with great zeal and we saw 350 citizens attending. We had ABIDE members Mr. Mahesh and Dr. Ravindra moderating the seminar and dignitaries from all sphere of Civic management discussing issue and giving us sustainable solutions. All these including garbage segregation is being implemented in the Model area at Jayangar Park and do hope the same can be replicated by all at Bangalore. Our school to school program has seen us reach out to 25 schools and we have now planted over 2000 tress at various schools. Lastly we, with the help of our Advisor Dr. Yellappa Reddy have plans to undertake a unique project to create an The Elephant Corridor ,subject to Govt. approval from Bannnerghatta to Nagarahole. We have now identified 25 acres near Banneghatta and this will help us to initiate this work. 1500 trees will be planted on the 3rd of July 2010 to commence the project. I invite all members to enjoy a day’s forest trail here and experience the atmosphere of a natural green forest just 5 kms, in the outskirts of Bangalore. Lastly the project work done could have not been successful without the active involvement of our associates Kshiti Foundation led by Mr. Siddlinga Prasad and his wonderful members. They have helped to sustain the work initiated.May we grow together and partner huge success in the coming years. We welcome each one to our fold and dedicate the issue to our sponsors. M/s. RMZ, M/s. Sasken, M/s Nokia, our seminar associate M/s. KMB Developers and all our wonderful Tree owners of “I OWN A TREE” . With warm regards Bhaskar Chairman, Eco Club “NAMMA BENGALURU, HASIRU BENGALURU”
THE VALUE OF A TREE A tree that lives for 50 years • Generates Rs.5.3 lakh worth of oxygen • Recycles Rs. 6.4 lakh worth of soil fertility • Facilitates Rs.6.4 lakh worth of soil erosion control • Creates Rs. 10.5 lakh worth of air pollution control and • Provides Rs. 5.3 lakh worth of shelter for birds and animals. Besides, it provides flowers and fruits. So when one tree falls or is felled, the city’s net loss is worth more than Rs. 33 lakhs. THINK BEFORE YOU CUT A TREE.
Our Aim To connect people with trees, developing emotional bonding, with a sense of ownership. To develop sense of belongingness and the strong feelings like “THIS IS MINE” “I AM THE OWNER” “IT BELONG TO ME” etc. To instill a sense of pride in the people in owning a tree and create a feeling of participation in a great cause of saving earth To develop cosmic relationship between the person who owns the tree, the tree itself and the school children. To create awareness about the importance of trees and their impact on our daily lives. To have every individual to “own a tree”
Why Trees - 10 Reasons Trees Produce Oxygen Let’s face it, we could not exist as we do if there were no trees. A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. What many people don’t realize is the forest also acts as a giant filter that cleans the air we breath.
Trees Clean the Air Trees help cleanse the air by intercepting airborne particles, reducing heat, and absorbing such pollutants as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Trees remove this air pollution by lowering air temperature, through respiration, and by retaining particulates. Trees Shade and Cool Shade resulting in cooling is what a tree is best known for. Shade from trees reduces the need for air conditioning in summer. In winter, trees break the force of winter winds, lowering heating costs. Studies have shown that parts of cities without cooling shade from trees can literally be “heat islands” with temperatures as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit higher than surrounding areas.
Trees Clean the Soil The term phytoremediation is a fancy word for the absorption of dangerous chemicals and other pollutants that have entered the soil. Trees can either store harmful pollutants or actually change the pollutant into less harmful forms. Trees filter sewage and farm chemicals, reduce the effects of animal wastes, clean roadside spills and clean water runoff into streams.
Trees Act as Windbreaks During windy and cold seasons, trees located on the windward side act as windbreaks. A windbreak can lower home heating bills up to 30% and have a significant effect on reducing snow drifts. A reduction in wind can also reduce the drying effect on soil and vegetation behind the windbreak and help keep precious topsoil in place. Trees Fight Soil Erosion Erosion control has always started with tree and grass planting projects. Tree roots bind the soil and their leaves break the force of wind and rain on soil. Trees fight soil erosion, conserve rainwater and reduce water runoff and sediment deposit after storms.
Trees Control Noise Pollution Trees muffle urban noise almost as effectively as stone walls. Trees, planted Trees Increase Property Values at strategic points in a neighborhood or around your house, can abate major noises Real estate values increase when trees beautify a property or neighborhood. from freeways and airports. Trees can increase the property value of Trees Slow Storm Water Runoff your home by 15% or more. Flash flooding can be dramatically reduced by a forest or by planting trees. One Colorado blue spruce, either planted or growing wild, can intercept more than 1000 gallons of water annually when fully grown. Underground water-holding aquifers are recharged with this slowing down of water runoff. Trees Are Carbon Sinks To produce its food, a tree absorbs and locks away carbon dioxide in the wood, roots and leaves. Carbon dioxide is a global warming suspect. A forest is a carbon storage area or a “sink” that can lock up as much carbon as it produces. This lockingup process “stores” carbon as wood and not as an available “greenhouse” gas.
“NAMMA BENGALURU, HASIRU BENGALURU”
Journey So Far : 12000+
What is the Program
“I Own a Tree” is conceived and executed by Kshiti Foundation® an NGO with support from Rotary Midtown, Bangalore. Any individual or group or organization can enroll in this program. Upon sponsoring, a specially designed “I Own a Tree” sticker will be issued, which can proudly displayed in vehicles or house etc. The sticker also acts as an everyday reminder to arise the feeling of owning the tree. Eco Club will identify the place and Plant the trees Eco Club will maintain the tree for 2 years from the date of plantation. Additionally the pictures of the trees will be made available in the website periodically The sponsorship amount per tree is 50 paisa per day for two years i.e. Rs. 365 per tree, which includes sapling cost, ground preparation, tree guard and maintenance cost for 2 years
Gottigere High School, Bannergatta Road : 50 Asha Deepa Oldage Home – Kanakapura Road : 50 Govt. School – Dasarahalli : 50 Outer Ring Road – Maratha halli : 200 Vivekanada School – Hosakote (2 Schools) : 250 Residential Layout – Magadi Road : 250 VGKK – B R Hills : 50 Temple in Gokarna : 25 Schools in Magadi Road : 500 Rajiv Ghandi Institute of Chest Diseases, Jayanagar : 1000 Bangalore University Campus in Mysore Road - Behind Civil Department : 900 Netaji Vana (Behind Botany Dept) : 3000 Opp to BMTC Bus Stop : 4000 Psychology Department : 2500 Botanical Garden, Behind VC’s Residence: 1000
Key Sponsor’s
Nokia : 10000 trees RMZ : 2500 Saskin : 1000 Centour Pharma : 32 Ness Technologies : 100
Prospective Places to Plant Trees
Journey Further
Place of Plantation: Bangalore University Campus 3rd July Saturday : 1000 17th July Saturday : 1000 31st July Saturday : 1000 15th Aug Sunday : 1500 Note: Few more Schools are also in the Plan
Schools Bangalore University Campus Temple Lands Ramkrishna Aashrama, Next to Bannergatta Forest, Shivanahalli
Types of Trees Planted
Saraca Ashoka (Seeta Ashoka)
Aegle Marmoloes (Bilwapatre)
Hemidesmus Indicus (Sogade Beeru)
Aristolochia Bracteata (Katte Kirubana Gida)
Thunbergia
Leucas Aspera (Tumbe)
Bixa Orellana (Ranga Mallige)
Hiptage Madablota, Bengalensis(Madhavee Lathe)
Artabotrys Odoratissimus (Madana Masti)
Butea Frondosa (Muttuga)
Tabermae Montana (Nandi Batlu)
Sesbania Grandiflora (AGASE)
Moringa Pterygosperma (Nugge)
Acacia Farnesia (Kasturi Jaali)
Bauhinia Wariegata (all varieties)-(Mandara)
“NAMMA BENGALURU, HASIRU BENGALURU”
Erythrina Cristagali (HAAluvani)
Our Partners
COACH- Compassites On A Cause for Help is a ESR (Employees Social Responsibility) program by employees of Compassites Software Solution Pvt Ltd., an IT innovation company based in Silicon valley of India.
Why
COACH as an initiative was started with an aspiration to put a smile on the underprivileged and down trodden of our society. Apart from the usual life of IT services and Product Development, employees of Compassites work together to make a difference in the society, giving out the message that WE CARE. COACH has been acitvely involved in programs like visiting the old age homes and spending time with the senior citizens, visiting science centers with the Orphan kids, conducting free eye camps and medical camps for villagers who cannot afford basic medical facilities and so on. A team of 5 people is formed after every 2 events which is responsible right from planning till execution including unique ways of fund raising and not just collecting money. COACH is yet another initiative to encourage the employees to take on the leadership role where they are trained to be able to take up the Managerial roles in their Career.
Go Green initiatives
COACH team felt the urge to contribute to mother Earth and felt the necessity to create awareness of global warming and taking steps towards making our planet green. The Go Green initiative started with “Plant a Tree” program that was held on 5th Oct 09 on the World habitat day at the Bangalore University. COACH team joined hands with Eco Club of Kishti foundation which has the vision of making every Bangalorean to own a tree. The 10th COACH event, was the second initiative of Go-Green. A herbal garden was created in one of the Government Schools located in Basavanagudi, Bangalore. The program included the plantation of more than 350 herbal plants having medicinal values which were part of the curriculum of the kids. The kids were educated as to how to take care of the plants and some tips were shared on how they could contribute to improvement of our Eco system. A debate program “Is Metro Rail a necessity in Bangalore?” was conducted for the kids. The response was so overwhelming which moved the audiences. COACH is on its journey to make a difference in the lives of people. Bangalore Mirror, a news daily captured the spirit of COACH in a recently
# 408, 7th Main, 2nd Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore - 560 011 Tel: 080-2656 3401, +91-98452 26157, +91-98450 1992 Fax: 080-4142 5876 e-mail: info@iownatree.og Website: www.ourecoclub.com This edition of E magazine dedicated to our well wishers,
RMZ, Sasken, and all donors of ‘I Own a Tree’ coming together is the beginning; working together is the journey; a green tomorrow is the destination “NAMMA BENGALURU, HASIRU BENGALURU”