What is the impact of 100,000 trees in Whitefield?
A hundred thousand trees have the ability to change entire eco systems. Here are four things we believe will happen:
Sparrows will return to Whitefield
Many species of butterflies will be back
The water table will rise
Carbon dioxide levels will be better managed
How do you plant 100,000 trees?
You tell us. At the moment, we need your help and enthusiasm to be able to do this by 15 August, 2008.
Over the last two years, the RBITC has been successful at planting trees around Sheelavanthanakere, a lake behind Sigma Tech Park, and along the Airport-Varthur Road.
These were planted by the RBITC, with the overwhelming support of people in the area.
But planting 100,000 trees is a different ball game…we need everybody’s involvement, and it would be great to have you and your children as part of the project. That way we would have ensured everyone has the chance to make a difference to the environment.
A group of people passionate about wanting to reduce the negative impact of our natural urban development has been working on the project under the RBITC banner. These include senior professional managers, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, students, housewives, small businessmen
A dedicated team is studying the 22 sq. km area and mapping it (see area outlined in red in the map above for coverage of the project). They are also consulting the local residents and RWAs. Discussions are also on with institutions which own large tracts of land in or around the area – army, police, HAL, companies, hospitals, etc. The response has been extremely encouraging.
Another team is working on contacting all the local residential communities to create awareness, get their involvement and to plant in their colonies. Many have already come forward to work in the project.
Yet another team is working on the Corporate sector, contacting companies and to involve them in the project. Initial efforts have evoked “Yes, we want to get involved” from every company contacted.
Creating awareness through creating and distributing collateral material, through out door hoardings, exposure in media etc. has been taken on a specific task by a group fully involved in it.
A large team will use all of the above to create evidence of the involvement of a large number of people and organizations through distribution of coupons, badges, etc.
Finally, one team is working closely with the contracting partners in the physical plantation and maintenance of saplings in the areas identified. They are also working on identifying type of saplings required and where we can get them from. The good news is already Mr Mahadeva Gowda, a noted environmentalist himself, has offered 20,000 saplings from his nursery at Dee Mandala farms and other places.
The project movement is well underway.
Who is part of this project?
We are getting in touch with as many people in the area as we can:
Individuals
Residential complexes and their associations
Companies/ corporates and institutions
Government bodies
If you want to participate, please write to Gita Sriram (gita@msc-india.com) who is coordinating this effort or
call on 9886112444.
Individual Involvement
If you or your children are interested in getting involved, here are some of the things you could do:
Help identify areas for planting trees
Be part of the awareness campaign
Get involved in collecting cash contributions (Rs. 100 per tree) that help plant the saplings and nurture them
Approach companies for their Involvement
Work towards acquiring an adequate number of saplings
Be part of the tree plantation itself
If you want to participate, please write to Gita Sriram (gita@msc-india.com) who is coordinating this effort
or call on 9886112444.
Corporate Involvement
We want to identify and work with organizations which would be interested in being associated with RBITC in this movement and we encourage such organizations to:
Spread this message amongst their employees to get their involvement
Make a donation towards the cause of a Green Whitefield
If you want to participate and know the benefits of corporate involvement, please write to Rajeev Mehtani (rajeev.mehtani@nxp.com) or call 9845640182.
What is RBITC
Dedicated group of people wanting to make a difference
Started 2 years ago
Doing extensive work in various schools
Provided a fully equipped ambulance for the Whitefield area
Provided a bus for S hankara Eye Hospital at Kundanahalli to transport patients from remote areas
Organized the world’s first Midnight Marathon in Whitefield in 2007
Planted trees around the lake two years ago, and on the Whitefield Varathur Road last year
