Giant Trees for Climate Change Mitigation in India

It is often the case that we as organizations or individuals hesitate from sharing bad things that happened to us or things that have gone wrong. In short we do not report on failures. Primary reason being that it may damage our reputation!

However in doing so, we deprive others of a very important learning and key insights into what actually is supposed to happen more often- things not working out the way we anticipated.

Here i am going to share a story of a Giant tree that we saved from being felled for immediate economic gains about an year ago and that eventually fell naturally in a storm. The lessons that we learned from this incident are very important and highly intrigueing.

One of important reasons behind fall of this tree was that it had hollowed out at its base and in the main stem. While this seems obvious, what was not known about such hollow trees in the tropical countries that is that as these trees start ageing , they pass on all the important nutrients to the soil and share those among the network of trees surrounding them. There is a growing scientific evidence in support of this statement. How amazing is that ? 

Secondly, at the time of its fall, it was loaded / flourishing with fruits. Our field team collected about 2 tonnes of fruits from this tree. Since these fruits have medicinal value and we have developed a value chain around that we made every effort to collect the fruits from its fallen branches.

Upon serious reflection, we realized- what a graceful way of ending once life ? 

Giving out everything that one has without any expectations till the very last moment.

There is lot that one can learn from nature but Giant trees are exceptional teachers of lasting values in our opinion. 

Another reason behind fall of such Giant trees is that they are isolated and fighting it out on their own.

In a forest, they might get some cover from surrounding trees and live longer. However in the forests in the region where we work and those in particularly not getting legal protection, one does not come across large trees. Thus we must make an effort to conserve these trees wherever they are. 

Another important lesson for us and something that we acted upon quickly was to bring middle aged trees under conservation management so that future generations can experience the glory and get an opportunity to learn values of giving and selflessness from the Giants. 

AERF team actually signed conservation agreement for saving 33 mid sized trees in village Palu in Lanja block and 12 mid sized trees of Terminalia bellirica by giving direct cash incentives to the owner as a result of this incident.

As is said in a war you lose some, you win some battles. 

Thanks for your continued support to and interest in our initiative.