GO GREEN

The small but sure steps

During a nostalgic conversation with my friends, we reflected on my grandmother's garden and the diminishing nature that surrounds us. One of my companions proposed that I lead a movement to promote eco-friendly practices, offering their assistance in any way possible. This marked the beginning of Agapai's initiative to promote environmental sustainability and ecological consciousness.

— GO GREEN

Trees, Plants & Shrubs...

The ancient Tamils had a unique way of dividing their land into five categories, known as 'Ivagai Nilangal'. These divisions were based on the specific flora and fauna that were present in each region. As an agricultural society, they possessed a wealth of knowledge regarding agronomy and cattle rearing, tailored to the topography of each region. It makes good sense to tap into this inherited knowledge by encouraging small landholders to cultivate fruit-bearing trees besides their goat rearing activities. Recently, we undertook a 'green mission' and planted around 485 trees comprising varieties such as mango, jamun, pomegranate, and guava on our lands of 1 to 2 cents in size.

GO GREEN

Expanding green

Mango ranks among the three highly esteemed ‘mukkanigal’ (three fruits) of Tamil Nadu, alongside jack fruit and banana. A single mango tree can yield plentiful fruit for an entire family, with the added benefit of being free of pesticides and fertilisers. Raw mangoes lend themselves well to both dry and wet pickling, while the remainder may be sold. Pomegranate and guava trees, relatively small in size, require less space and boast medicinal properties. Naturally grown fruits bring much joy to children who delight in picking and eating them, alongside competing squirrels. The overarching goal is to effect meaningful change starting from localised initiatives such as soil and water table improvement, ultimately leading to the creation of a self-sufficient ecosystem in and around the villages and open spaces we serve. Our efforts included planting Indian palm trees in a village school, a particularly resilient species with the added benefit of summer fruit-bearing and its direct connection to water table improvement.

GO GREEN

Teething problems

Our organisation encountered some initial setbacks and failures, though such experiences provided valuable lessons. Notably, we observed a low survival rate for saplings planted during the onset of summer. Subsequently, we began to plant saplings during the onset of monsoons, which yielded a significantly higher success rate. Due to the unavailability of sponsors for steel wire meshes, we rely on our indigenous karuvelam branches to safeguard the young saplings.

GO GREEN

The sure steps

At times, donors offer their support by providing saplings that come equipped with protective iron grates to ensure the safety of the saplings during their juvenile stage. Whenever individuals display an interest in donating saplings, it brings us great pleasure to witness their heightened awareness and enthusiasm to contribute towards achieving a greener ecosystem, one that also has nutritional benefits. Both the recipients and their offspring find it gratifying to 'own' a tree, and the 'green mission' is elated to observe the successful fruition of its objectives, even in small ways. Sponsors of such projects have emotional connections to them, as evidenced by one donor who expressed her desire to plant 108 trees to celebrate her grandfather's birth anniversary year. Others contribute with modest expectations and contentment, anticipating that they have fulfilled their duty towards securing a more sustainable planet for future generations. It is important to remember that many excellent initiatives have humble beginnings, much like a waterfall that gradually transforms into a stream and then a powerful river.

GO GREEN

Participants in the solution – social forestry

Social forestry has become a topic of great interest in recent years, as the global community has recognised the detrimental effects of over-exploiting our natural resources. The widespread deforestation, timber exploitation, mining, and industrialisation of certain regions have had adverse effects on topography and rainfall patterns. With the exception of Bhutan, Suriname, and Panama, most countries have a carbon-positive status. At Agapai, we believe that instead of simply discussing these problems as news items, it is essential to play an active role in finding solutions.In India, there exists a land system called “Puram Pokku” which traditionally served as grazing grounds for cattle, as well as areas for collecting herbs and firewood. These lands are often left unutilised and become depleted over time. One of our objectives at Agapai is to involve local villagers in the social forestry of the “Puram Pokku” lands around their village, by planting indigenous shrubs and trees that can replenish and sustain these over-exploited lands. The flora we plant will be carefully selected to meet the needs of the local population, including forage, herbs, firewood, wild and edible fruits, edible greens, and timber. We have taken small but meaningful steps towards this goal, including planting trees along village roads, barren land, and school campuses. At Agapai, we are committed to taking an active role in preserving and protecting our natural environment for future generations.