Pune – Transformation from IT Hub to O2 Hub

Ever imagined a city set to transform itself from being the IT Hub to be known as the O2 hub?

50 thousand tress planted by Tree Public Foundation this July makes it a reality to believe.

TREE PUBLIC FOUNDATION (TPF), A Pune-based Environment NGO with its goal to save the green acres and to enhance the oxygen levels, completed planting 50,000 on Aug 2nd 2013 thereby making Pune an O2 hub a reality .

The NGO is now determined to take a telescopic jump in increasing the green canopy cover to enhance the oxygen level further, regulate the temperature variations and work towards providing a healthy tomorrow and intend to create large green patches which can truly act as ‘lungs of the city’ within the city.

As a part of our PPP model, (Public Private Participation) we were gracefully supported by enthusiastic organizations like The Indian Army , Cantonment Board, 700 volunteers from various colleges , 2800 children from 10 schools, the management & employees of Premier Ltd, Persistent foundation, Lalchand Hirachand Trust, I Build Foundation, Tata Motors and Cummins with their employees came forward. The plantation was carried out mostly in the areas of Aundh, Pimple Saudagar Yerwada, Talegao and Nagar road.  Celebrities like Dr. Mohan Agashe, Saksham Kulkarni, Bhushan Pradhan to name a few, actively joined hands to support the cause.

                                                        Importance of the Initiative:

Ø  Increasing the oxygen levels of Pune - Trees are the most important element in our nature system , it’s very important for us to start acting upon this natural resource, as our basic requirement of oxygen is derived from trees, It is very important for all of us to breath healthy & healthy trees are our only companion in this journey. Large sustainable tree plantation & green cover is very crucial to increase the healthy oxygen level inside the city limit.

Ø  Reducing the temperature variation level drastically - There are simple reason why we like prabhat road , bmcc road or koregaon park because it has got more tree cover and 1 to 2 degree temperature difference. Temperature combat is again a huge challenge that only trees can resolve. The only way we could combat the temperature rise, is by planting right kind of trees that will have large green canopy and provide shade.

Ø  Retaining the ground water levels & soil conservation - Trees play a very crucial role in soil conservation & retaining the soil, what happened in Uttarakhand was also a clear example of deterioration of forest & tree cover, due to less availability of tree cover the soil was loose. the water that came gushing the mountains carried the loose soil along and covered the entire city. This could have been avoided to an extent if there were enough trees. The loose soil is a major concern for all of us today living in cities. As loose soil settles to the basin of river & dams, increase the level of water creating floods situations every year. 

Ø          Ø Increasing the Biodiversity & Birds migration – Pune is also known for palying a good host for the            migratory birds. Unfortunately little has been done to retain the native birds within the City. TPF chooses   trees that are preferred by these native birds to build their shelters.
  

Efforts taken by Tree Public & Technical analysis of the project

Ø  Various technical factors like soil testing, moister level, reap-ability were done.

Ø  Ground water level analysis, pest in the area were studied month before planting.

Ø  Appropriate natural fertilizers, manures were put before plantation

Ø  Trees planted were chosen from the Western Ghats native which have best survival ability in the prevailing soil condition.

Ø  With the help of our volunteers & other teams plantation effort was carried out.

Ø  Contingency back up for water supply is also maintained for these planted trees.

Ø  Tree public with its local volunteer’s team will now maintain these trees for next 2 years as well. 

Tree public now plans to plant over 1 lac trees by August 2014

We look forward for and invite corporate and individuals to play a pivotal role in supporting this noble cause and help achieve the landmark target of 1 lac trees jointly and continue increasing the O2 levels of Pune city. 

Responsible Drumming by DUMRU with Tree Public

“DUMRU” – THE DRUM FESTIVAL OF INDIA is India’s BIGGEST and ONLY Annual

DRUM/RHYTHM FESTIVAL, organized in the city of Pune.

The festival is Conceptualized and Produced by Mumbai based production house Gladpeople Entertainment Networks and it played host to more than 25 thousand rhythm lovers in its first season last year. The audiences were typically in the age group of 25 to 55 hence giving all our partners a varied target group for their promotions.

DUMRU – The Drum Festival of India 2012 will feature India’s best percussionists and will focus more on collaborations and new world sounds.

World famous percussionist and tabla Maestro Pandit Bickram Ghosh from Kolkata will be curating the festival is looking forward to include 2 international collaborations among other star percussionists like Sivamani,Peet Lockett, Greg Ellies, Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, Vidhvaan Vikku Vinayakram to name a few.

 Dumru – the Drum Festival of India has joined hands with Pune based NGO Tree Public to spread the awareness of creating a green tree blanket over Pune and to make Pune an environment friendly city. The organizers of DUMRU – The drum festival of India will donate one tree on every ticket sold to Tree Public.

Tree Public’s Annual “ Environment Arts Theater Festival ”

Tree Public Foundation organizes its annual Inter-School “ Environment Art Theatre Festival”  for the past 3 years, focusing on environment, biodiversity, wild life as central theme. This green festival is been planned only for school students in two groups

i.e.  ( pre-primary up to Std 4^th) & the secondary section i.e. (Std 5th to Std 10th)

Tree Public Foundation gives an opportunity for school students to perform drama and dance mélange on the given theme of nature. The performance is designed to be of minimum 10 & maximum 15 minutes, revolving around the given theme. Festival consists of Primary/screening rounds moving on to the selection rounds and then the selected schools get to perform on a bigger platform showcasing at the “Grand Finale”.

Shortlisted schools performing at the grand finale win certificates of participation , prizes, trophy’s for their school.

Tree Public in addition gives an opportunity to perform on various professional platform with renowned artist. The grand finale is judged by renowned senior artist & stalwarts from the theater & film fraternity.

Refreshing Outcome of the Festival :

1.      In-depth understanding of the alarming issues.

2.      Constructively self-solution finding methodology.

3.      Communication ,stage presentation & theater skills development of the students participating.

4.      Helping the art form keep alive & developing by more participation.

Number of school participating: 100 Schools

Treevolution Pune 2012.

Tree Public celebrated Treevolution Day 2012 at Symbiosis Vishwa Bhavan, on Saturday, 28th April 2012.

Vision : To save a decade we need to plant trees , but to save a decade we need to plant “Green Ideas”

Panel discussion & QA session for manufacturing Industry & construction related to environment and future challenges ahead.

It was a 3 hour program that included panel discussions and specially created environment art performances by television artistes organized by the Tree Public Foundation – commonly known as Tree Public. Environment NGO.

Amongst the eminent panelists in the panel discussions are:

Dr. Rajendra Shende, Director of the United Nations Environment Program,France.

Architect and world renowned city planner Christopher Benninger.

Biodiversity expert & Chairman of Maharashtra biodiversity board  – Dr. Erach Bharucha,

Vir chakra, environmentalist & HR expert- Col Lalit Rai, former Deputy chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral SCS Bangara, leading economist and environmentalist Dr. Vijay Paranjapye.

Who discussed about the sustainable City modules , growth and Pune’s infrastructure to support the growth.

Also in the program are two specially created environmental theatre programs. Award winning Parlekar Group from Mumbai, led by Tejas Malap would enrapture the audience with their two different plays miming and shadow play with environment as a central theme.

This is a “Green Ideas” concept by designed by TPF via which we are engage Industries , construction , services & society together to think green . Each one of us has a artist in him or her and we are trying to connect , inspire & reflect team work to come together to move towards a green pune revolution via Treevolution Pune.

ANECDOTES ON ENVIRONMENT-A SHORT JOURNEY INTO THE PAST @ Tree Public Foundation

           Words of Inspiration by Admiral Bangara Sir on the latest event Treevolution 2012 Pune

Admiral Suresh Bangara. 

(Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command and
 Commandant National Defense Academy NDA )

ANECDOTES ON ENVIRONMENT-A SHORT JOURNEY INTO THE PAST @ Tree Public Foundation        

Post retirement activities can be very challenging and occasionally very stimulating and satisfying too. Faced as I am, with wide ranging activities , I declined an invitation to be on a distinguished panel of experts on Environment- an occasion designed to involve corporates, educationists, academics and students- in the cause of protecting the environment.

A young but determined founder of a NGO Tree Public who was the organizer of the talk show, refused to accept my plea of ignorance. He repeatedly drew my attention to the sterling work undertaken by the Armed forces of India, towards protecting and improving our environment. Confronted by a fiercely committed young man, I was obliged to put my thinking cap on, so that in the presence of highly qualified experts, I could voice a layman’s perspective of the last 60 years, before articulating the determination displayed by the Armed Forces to fight all types of pollution in regard to environment.

Thanks to this unique call form Tree Public, I was able to journey into my past to introspect based on my observations; also with hind sight. This blog only covers the journey backwards in time. Perhaps many of you of my vintage can relate to my experience. If so, we stand exposed, as those who let down the next generation, on crucial issues pertaining to protection of our environment.

Economists will tell us the relationship between per capita income and the will to address environment related issues. It is said that crossing the barrier of US Dollar 5000(in PPP terms) is significant in appreciating the need to address pollution related problems and taking proactive measures to reduce damage to the environment. My early child hood memories are all about villages’ enroute to coffee estates of the south. Poor and illiterate as they were, their commitment to Mother Nature was so rich and their folk lore and anecdotes so telling on the need to protect the environment from all forms of pillage and plundering, that it had indeed left a deep impression on my sub-conscious mind. Nothing to do with income or affluence? We were taught at every stage to understand flora and fauna, coexist with nature, use herbal medicines for all forms of diseases, and appreciate the interdependence of humans with flora and fauna. Most of all we were urged to pass on by word of mouth so that knowledge acquired over centuries is not forgotten or obliterated in the name of modern science.

If Yajnavalkya Smriti the Indian Text on State craft and Jurisprudence, written in 5^th century AD had a chapter on the ill effects of felling trees and Kautalya’s Arthashashtra had advice on Forest Administration, why and how did we lose track of our responsibilities towards protecting environment.?

Continuing with the past, if I were to list the positives of our way of life in 1950’s, some features stand out. Discipline and strict adherence to rule of law were cornerstones of life. Even a simple Government run school in a taluka,was clean, well maintained and well managed. The teachers were dedicated to the profession and hence were much respected in the community. Punishments to erring students were instant and the support of the parents to enforce such punishments was unshakeable. Great emphasis was laid on environment consciousness and customs and traditions. Energy efficiency even when electricity was inaccessible was ingrained in us. Gobar, camphor, thatched roofs etc were eco friendly pesticides, insecticides and renewable and affordable ingredients of consumption. Rivers and lakes were kept spotlessly clean-no plastics, no effluents, least of all human and animal faeces. Quality of water down -stream was the responsibility of those dwelling up stream. Water holes and ponds were kept clean by village and town administrators who were always at the service of the people. Trees were never harmed.

And then came the rat-race of my generation. Urbanisation, unruly, unplanned spread of towns and cities and a strong urge to look outwards(towards the west) rather than learn from our past. Overpowering consumerism and wanton destruction of the environment soon followed. Rest is history.

The silver lining is the reappearance of a little emphasis on the subject, in schools. My 13 year old granddaughter can lecture me on how to protect our environment and show our concern for the generations to follow. There is hope. After the terrible destruction caused during WW1&2, in particular, destruction of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, have we not recovered and to a great extent alleviated horrors of such destruction? Let us put our shoulders to the wheel, no matter how weak!

Abhishek, this is dedicated to you and your gallant friends at Tree Public Foundation.

http://scsbangara.blogspot.in/

Green target: 25,000 saplings by Aug 15 - Indian Express

Green target: 25,000 saplings by Aug 15 - Indian Express

This is beauty, not branding

The faces of the children from Life Institute orphanage wearing broad smiles as they prepared for their upcoming performance showcasing the Treepublic theatre play “Earth , Water and Air” was priceless. The occasional laughter permeated the atmosphere during the rehearsal.

It was a win win situation as the volunteers from Treepublic geared themselves towards teaching the children their various parts in the play, the children in return taught the volunteers to laugh and enjoy life.

This is purity, not packaging...

Abhishek, Sayali, Rohan and myself directing the kids in preparation for their presentation on the 24th of July at local Hall.

This is value, not vanity....
The creative awareness project was initiated to reach schools across Pune with the message of respecting Mother Nature. The creative awareness team consisting of various artist from the film industry, dance academies, theatre groups and writers pooling their talent, treasure and time to inspire change within the children towards nature.

I had the privilege of being part of the story writing process and eventually narrating these stories at the various schools. Initially, we were concerned if the children would react positively to our stories but was soon put to rest by their overwhelming reception. So much so that the Treepublic team were inspired to write new stories and present them at the different schools.

Me narrating a Treepublic story at Kangaroo Kids preschool. Not sure about the kids but I'm loving it.