A Tree Today, a Greener Tomorrow: Sadbhavna’s Vision for India

Planting a tree is an easy proposition. One buries the sapling in the soil and waters it to let it grow. But tree plantation in India is a different proposition altogether. A planted sapling needs to be nurtured and protected before it grows into an established tree.

And that is where Sadbhavna’s tree plantation campaign stands out with its unique pitch. It talks of the responsibility that comes with planting a sapling that helps create green patches that last long.

India’s Green Challenge

India’s forests and trees are an integral part of the country’s ecological system. The India State of Forest Report 2023 reports that India has 7,15,342.61 square kilometres of forest cover and 1,12,014.34 square kilometres of tree cover. Combined, the tree and forest cover constitute 25.17 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.

These numbers, however, also point to the fact that environmental conservation cannot be left to one agency or one season. There is a need for government departments, communities, organisations, corporates, and individuals to come on board to help with plantation drives and environmental conservation.

For Sadbhavna, it is now a long-term mission.

From a Plantation Drive to a Green Movement

Founded on 15 August 2015, the organisation has been supporting senior citizens and animals while making tree plantation one of its prime environmental causes.

As per Sadbhavna’s tree plantation records, the company claims to have planted 1,10,02,515 trees in 11 years with the help of more than 1,100 staff members and 450 water tankers.

But what makes the organisation stand out is its proposition: protection and maintenance of planted saplings. Fencing off the saplings and having a dedicated team and water tankers to look after the saplings’ needs means the company’s plantation efforts go well beyond what most others do.

Growing Green Villages

One of Sadbhavna’s key environmental causes is the Green Village Initiative. Under the aegis of this project, the company aims to plant 2,000 trees in a village to create larger green patches instead of treating saplings as isolated entities.

Greening villages also has an advantage in terms of environment conservation: proximity. Trees planted along roadsides, in public places, in schools, in villages, and anywhere else imaginable create a sense of accomplishment in those who see the outcomes of these plantation drives.

For Sadbhavna, it is an important component of community-building through environment conservation.

Planting Is Only the Beginning

Most tree plantation companies make the mistake of making the number of saplings planted the end-point of their efforts. But the truth is, planting is only the beginning. Survival and protection are of equal – if not greater – importance.

Sadbhavna’s tree plantation strategy, as mentioned earlier, goes well beyond just planting. Fencing, maintenance, watering, and protection of the saplings are necessary steps to ensure that a planted tree survives and grows into an established tree.

The company’s website has a section that asks potential donors to contribute ₹3,000 towards the maintenance of a sponsored tree for 3-4 years. It also mentions that the organisation keeps records of all plantation activities. Further, donors can rest assured that they will receive photo updates on the sponsored trees.

It creates a deeper sense of responsibility for a donor: not just ₹3,000 for a sapling, but an assurance of care and maintenance for the tree’s survival for the next 3-4 years.

Native Trees and Larger Green Spaces

The native trees planted under the banner of Sadbhavna’s tree plantation activities include Neem, Peepal, Banyan, and Amla, among others. Further, block plantation activities have also been undertaken by the company.

The website section on tree plantation mentions 1111 Billy Van and 7575 Peepal Van, which use fenced plantation and irrigation methods. It means that organisations like Sadbhavna need to move beyond individual trees and think in terms of blocks of trees. Such blocks have the potential to grow into forests that contribute immensely towards environmental conservation.

The choice of trees and locations for plantation activities need to be guided by environmental experts since factors such as biodiversity, climate, soil, water, and more need to be studied before undertaking any large-scale environmental causes.

Why Sadbhavna’s Vision Matters

Environment conservation efforts feature large numbers: millions of trees, thousands of hectares of forest cover and so on. But large numbers cannot emerge simply from a tree plantation campaign. At some point, someone has to plant one tree, and then another, and another. In fact, the survival of each tree matters for the creation of a forest.

That is the philosophy behind Sadbhavna’s vision for India. It combines the participation of individuals, communities, and corporations to take environment conservation to new levels. Its vision of planting 150 crore trees in India might seem far-fetched to some, but it is the magnitude of participation it inspires that is truly worth admiration.

A Tree Today, a Greener Tomorrow

A tree is never a solution to every environment-related illness. But planting and maintaining the right kinds of trees can be a part of a larger plan towards holistic environment conservation. The realisation of a tree plantation campaign’s potential lies in the long-term vision of turning a sapling into a tree, a few trees into a patch of green, and patches of green into forests. And that is the vision of organisations like Sadhbhavana: greener villages, towns, and cities through large-scale but meaningful environment conservation efforts.

The proposition is a simple one: planting is merely the beginning while care and maintenance are what truly matter. If India has to make its villages greener, its towns and cities healthier, and its environment cleaner, it needs to think beyond one day, one week, or even one year. It needs to think of a long-term vision for environment conservation wherein every person plays a part.

After all, a tree planted today is a statement made for tomorrow. And when that statement is made by thousands and millions of people, it can truly make a difference. To learn more about Sadbhavna’s tree plantation efforts and to support an important aspect of environmental conservation, visit Sadbhavnadham.org.