Mokokchung, July 21: Every year, 5th June is being observed throughout the globe as World Environment Day. It is a clear index of the people’s anxiety to keep the environment free from the hazards of the pollution.
The environmental consciousness is often synchronized with the tree plantation ceremony. After implanting the saplings, the raw soil is refilled with spraying little amount of water followed by taking photographs of the VIPs/ honoured guests who planted the saplings. This is followed by press release by the organizer and subsequent publication at the print media or broadcast through electronic media.
However, the ignorant part is the initiators hardly take little care about post plantation saplings and forget to go for followed up and fill in the gaps with new saplings which did not survive. As a result the survival rates of planted saplings are very low.
On July 14, a group of people in Yimyu ward of Mokokchung town were embarking on a follow up program by clearing up the grasses and replacing the dead saplings with new one’s which were planted during the World Environment Day last years.
The followed up programme was spearheaded by Yimyu Ward Development Committee (YWDC) formed under the aegis of Yimyu Ward Authority to supervise and initiate all the developmental activities in the ward. The committee has initiated a plantation drive last years on the occasion of World Environment day to contribute toward climate change.The Convener of the YWDC, Alemkumzuk said on World Environment day last year, the YWDC along with the Yimyu Ward Authority and Ongpangkong Compound Youth Union (OCYU) has planted more than 3000 saplings donated by Forest and Sericulture department along the roadsides, Schools, institutions like DIET, Mokokchung College of Teacher Education and chosen pockets around the ward.
Alemkumzuk who is also the District Sericulture Officer of Mokokchung added that survival rate of the saplings planted last year was seventy percent and ill health or already dead sapling were replaced with new ones, adding, 700 more saplings were planted to fill the gap.
Alemkumzuk said that this was the second follow up programme initiated by the committee to clear the grasses which have completely covered the saplings and plant more saplings in every pocket available in the ward.
He also informed that the ward authority has resolved to plant atleast five saplings around the surrounding of every household and the people’s response towards plantation drive is very positive.
“We were amazed to see most of the saplings planted near the residences were already cleared before we started our work,” Alemkumzuk said while expressing his appreciation to the people for their support.
The convener also said that they are planting saplings which will remain evergreen throughout the season like Som trees for Muga Silkworms, Medicinal, fruits trees etc.
Alemkumzuk also stated the committee and ward citizens are committed to continue their contribution toward climate change by planting more trees and initiate follow up programme regularly.
Residents of Yimyu Ward Merang Longkumer said that trees play a major role for sustainability of human through numbers of channels, including the water cycle, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, natural pest control, influencing local climates and providing habitat protection to many species.
He also opined that human dependences on trees and consumption will be more and never end, however men should maintain a balance with nature by at least filling the gaps with new saplings which were chopped off for human needs.
Alemkumzuk also lamented that many such initiation could not be implemented successfully because people realized the importance on the auspicious day and forget to initiate follow up programme.
The follow up programme is essential for proper check up of saplings that were planted. If such saplings are taken care of, then tree plantation in Nagaland will be meaningful. It is, therefore, suggested to the organizers of tree plantation to take up follow up action for survival of the planted plants.
