’Adopt-A-Tree’ Project Launched in Mangalore

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 30, 2012: A unique programme to create awareness on environment protection `Adopt-A-Tree’ Project was launched at Bal Bhavan, Kadri in Mangalore on Saturday (June 30) by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Mr. G V Subramanyam. The year-long project is being initiated by Centre for Integrated Learning (CIL) in association with Lions Club Mangalore, Department of Forests, Dakshina Kannada and Big FM.

The innovative project was launched by releasing a specially designed Scrapbook which was distributed to students of various schools along with the saplings. As a symbolic gesture, Subramanyam handed over a sapling to the Executive Director of CIL  Sachitha Nandagopal and Radio Jockey of Big FM Vishwas Kamath on the occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking on the occasion, Subramanyam regretted the scant regard shown by our present and previous generations towards environment which has led to a situation which needs redressal on a war footing. He remarked that the younger generations, especially the school children are the only hope in protecting our environment in case we need a secured future. Planting a sapling individually and nurturing it by each of the child, can definitely change the face of our earth and protect from deteriorating situation of depleting ozone layer, he added. He also planted a sapling to mark the occasion.

President of Lions Club Mangalore, Dr. Arvind Rao Kedige also spoke on the occasion and exhorted the students to take up various social causes, especially in the field of environment protection.

CIL member Ruth D’Silva welcomed the gathering and Hrishikesh Shetty proposed the vote of thanks. Vaishnavi Pavithran compeered the programme.

Adopt a Tree is a unique and first of its kind programme in Mangalore, where each child will be given a tree to take care of, they will have to record the growth of the tree over a period of one year in a scrap book given to them. As many as 100  students will participate in this programme. This is an attempt to instill a sense of accountability and responsibility among the students towards their environment.

Apart from the individual volunteers who will plant and monitor the saplings, four schools have been selected where 25 saplings will be distributed along with the scrapbook and each of the students looks after a sapling. The initiative was launched at Infant Jesus Joyland School at Bolar recently.

`Adopt-A-Tree’  Project is a year-long programme which would include an array of activities like workshops, mid-year review, field visits and certification of members. As many as 50 children have now registered as members of `Adopt-A-Tree’ project and we expect good response from children in the days to come, according to CIL Executive Director Sachitha Nandagopal.