"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Nelson Henderson

It all started one day when the members of Project HumTum in Mangalore decided that it was high time to do something for the earth. All the team members are different from one another, belong to different professions, age groups, localities but have a common thread - the hope and desire to make this world a better place.

Project HumTum is a group of like-minded people from Mangalore who believe in making a difference by helping people in need, animals, and environment and carry out projects like cleaning, plogging, and sapling plantation. 

Over the last 4 months i.e June to September, every weekend has been just about planting some hope around 11 locations in Mangalore. Together we have planted over 350 saplings!

Currently, we are going a step further and beginning to nurture this hope that we've planted, help them grow by de-weeding, mulching, manuring and taking care of them until they are ready to take care of us all forever!

Why is it important to plant more trees?

The root cause for many global crises like water scarcity, climate change, pollution, and world hunger is linked to deforestation. Thomas Crowther, a post-doctoral researcher at the Yale University of Forestry and Environmental Studies concluded in his paper that 15 billion trees are cut down every year that accounts for a loss of more than two trees per person. 

Ever since the dawn of human civilization, there has been a fall of 46% in the number of trees. He also stated that the United States of America has 716 trees per headcount, Brazil around 1,494 trees per person, Canada 8,953 per person, china 102 trees per person and India has only 28 trees per person or less. 

According to the 2014 report by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the ideal trees-human ratio should be 7 trees per person. This ratio is necessary for good oxygen percentage availability but at the rate, the greenhouse effect is disrupting our earth's normal cycle we must save and plant more trees.

Studies have shown that warming oceans kill phytoplankton, which accounts for half of the Earth’s oxygen supply which important to maintain ecological balance for marine life. The important point to be noted here is that trees play a role here, too. By planting more trees and reducing the process of deforestation, we can aim in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing the ocean's temperature to rise leading to the death of planktons.

What can you do?

1. Start community planting sessions, contact local authorities and plant saplings by the roadside, near park areas involve the young and the old.

2. Find joy in saving the earth. You don’t have to wait for Van Mahotsav or world earth or environment day to plant saplings. Every day must be dedicated to saving our earth. If you have space restrictions contact organizations that plant saplings on your behalf.

We must never forget that trees are the lungs of the world. They are the ones that keep the earth’s ecosystem stable. Let’s plant many more of them, save the ones present, nurture the ones growing and in turn help ourselves to live better.

A person who nurtures the child is as important as the person who gives birth to it. Both would be addressed as a mother. So come be a mother to the saplings, contribute to their growth, and spread the love! We have no planet B nor do we have enough time to relax. We have to act now.

“One who plants a tree, plants hope."

(The views expressed in the article are the author’s own. Let Me Breathe neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)