Nagpur: With rains finally hitting the city, environment lovers have launched a unique drive for increasing the depleting green cover.
Amid the debate over the success rate of the ambitious plantation drives taken up by the state government, greens have kick-started a drive of sowing seed balls in open and protected spaces across the city. A group of them led by advocate and environment activist Ambarish Joshi, who runs an organization Footloose Trekkers, sowed over 600 seed balls of different species, including Bel, sitafal (custard apple), chinch (tamarind) and other species at open spaces on the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) campus.
The idea is to sow as many seeds as possible to ensure more survival rate. “We have launched this drive on an experimental basis. It is purely based on the law of probability. To save them from cattle grazing, we are trying to identify areas which are protected by a fence or compound. We are hoping for a good survival rate,” said Joshi, who purchased around 6,000 seed balls from Cotton Market.
In the last few days, the group has sowed at least 1,000 seeds in different areas. “This is the perfect time for sowing as the city has received some spells of rains. It is very important to have moisture content in the soil for the plant growth,” said Joshi.
Highlighting benefits of seed balls compared to planting saplings, Joshi said that balls demand less maintenance. “Firstly, they are cheaper. While an average cost of one sapling would be around Rs10-15, one can buy 15 seed balls for the same amount. Secondly, balls do not have other requirements like tree guards,” said Joshi.
The nature lover added that social media has played an important role in bringing together like-minded people. “After seeing my messages on What’s App, many friends who have concern for the environment and ecology joined me despite the incessant rainfall since morning,” he said.
Among those present were Shashikant Gudadhe, an alumni of LIT and members of Footloose Trekkers, including Shashikant Pathak, Pradeep Deshpande, head of the statistics department of Hislop College Jyoti Shiwalkar and others.
The group plans to continue the drive at LIT and other open places in the city.
Amid the debate over the success rate of the ambitious plantation drives taken up by the state government, greens have kick-started a drive of sowing seed balls in open and protected spaces across the city. A group of them led by advocate and environment activist Ambarish Joshi, who runs an organization Footloose Trekkers, sowed over 600 seed balls of different species, including Bel, sitafal (custard apple), chinch (tamarind) and other species at open spaces on the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) campus.
The idea is to sow as many seeds as possible to ensure more survival rate. “We have launched this drive on an experimental basis. It is purely based on the law of probability. To save them from cattle grazing, we are trying to identify areas which are protected by a fence or compound. We are hoping for a good survival rate,” said Joshi, who purchased around 6,000 seed balls from Cotton Market.
In the last few days, the group has sowed at least 1,000 seeds in different areas. “This is the perfect time for sowing as the city has received some spells of rains. It is very important to have moisture content in the soil for the plant growth,” said Joshi.
Highlighting benefits of seed balls compared to planting saplings, Joshi said that balls demand less maintenance. “Firstly, they are cheaper. While an average cost of one sapling would be around Rs10-15, one can buy 15 seed balls for the same amount. Secondly, balls do not have other requirements like tree guards,” said Joshi.
The nature lover added that social media has played an important role in bringing together like-minded people. “After seeing my messages on What’s App, many friends who have concern for the environment and ecology joined me despite the incessant rainfall since morning,” he said.
Among those present were Shashikant Gudadhe, an alumni of LIT and members of Footloose Trekkers, including Shashikant Pathak, Pradeep Deshpande, head of the statistics department of Hislop College Jyoti Shiwalkar and others.
The group plans to continue the drive at LIT and other open places in the city.
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