Belgaum is a beautiful place. We abut the Western Ghats. The conservation of the Western Ghats is paramount to the world ecosystem.
We were living our own mundane lives in this beautiful city we call home. Going through the same old daily grind. Then one day something popped up on a social media site that caught our attention. There it was - a small group of people who call themselves "Green Saviours".
So one fine monsoon Sunday about 10 months ago, we decided to join them for a afforestation drive. From the moment we sat in the bus to go to the site to the moment we got back, our experience was inimitable! The bus was full of people ranging from children to college going youngsters to retired old souls and everyone in between. The air was welcoming and their reception was like being enveloped in a warm cocoon. We were to plant trees at Chikhale, right on the Ghats.
It was peak monsoons and the rain didn't deter a soul. The terrain itself was arduous and involved a massive walk to reach the plantation site! Probably one of the best Sundays we ever spent! I was alone with a child and the whole group helped and welcomed the little one with such vigour! They helped carry her when the going got tough and held her hand when things were slippery. This small group of volunteers were just blowing us away. However, it was not just all work and no play, they literally had us in splits with the fun and dancing in the bus on the way back home after a hard day's work! These folks know how to savour every joyous moment in life!
And hence our journey with the Green Saviours started. They have been tenaciously playing their part in the afforestation since the last 152 consecutive Sundays! Their uniqueness lies in the fact that they not just plant trees but actively maintain all planted sites. Also they are pioneering with new environmental techniques like the miyawaki afforestation method.
The Miyawaki method is very potent! We plant native and indigenous species of trees and shrubs in a very small piece of land. Trying to mimic the natural forest environment. All trees are planted close to each other. This helps with what we call as "canopy wars". The plants compete with each other for nutrition and light and consequently grow taller and faster in an accelerated fashion. Scientific, practically proven to work and very effective indeed!
We are creating magic!
This post is completely dedicated to the group of volunteers that are making a difference. The number of full time employees of Green Saviours is zero! Each and every person volunteers and joins because they believe they can make a difference.
Please follow our journey -
Here is another 15 year old trying to make a big difference -
Video credits to goalcast
I hope you watch the video above. It is profound beyond words. We have only this one planet. ONE.
Every one of us can make a difference, even in our own small ways. As poignantly put forth by the gods - Pink Floyd
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
