When a private citizen takes responsibility of replanting trees in busy public streets
The loss of trees causes a huge damage to urban environments, endangering the health of the citizens with poor air quality. A detailed study report on this serious issue found by analyzing aerial photographs of tree cover in 20 cities, that cities suffer a net loss of 4 million trees annually!
Instead of keeping quiet about the lack of trees in their area, Javed Shaikh decided to do something about this issue. He realized that it was not that simple a task, as just planting a tree in the sidewalk. There were lots of steps involved regarding a simple task as planting a tree in an urban area!
They had to for approach the tree plantation department of the local municipality with a request letter. An authorized officer would then visit the site and give his approval. Usually a flowering tree would be planted by the authorities which would soon die if it was not looked after well by the indifferent workers.
On such sites Mr. Javed Sheikh decided to spend from his own pocket and plant the rich oxygen giving Neem tree or the shady peepal tree. He spent for fertilizers and appointed special people to water and look after these baby trees. When the metal enclosure kept for the safety of the tree was robbed, Mr. Javed himself got new bamboo enclosures made to ensure that the Neem trees grow in a safe and sound manner.
If more private citizens like Mr. Javed take responsibility for providing a green cover in our public city streets, then we can all live in a better environment even in crowded urban areas.
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