What trees are best for you?

What trees are best for you?
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Pre monsoon showers damaged 30 trees in Bangalore last week. Most of them were ornamental, and ornamental trees are easy victims of pre monsoon showers, which bring along heavy winds.

Environmentalists suggest a better planting procedure. There is a need to identify tree that can grow well and stand up to the winds and rains.

It is easy for officials from Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to blame the gusty winds, experienced generally during the premonsoon period, for uprooting of trees. But zero precautions are taken prior to the monsoon to save the trees, say environmentalists.

“Planting of local indigenous tree species should be made mandatory in Bangalore. But, winds are not the only force that brings down trees. We have submitted a detailed report to the BMP with a list of tree species required and ground level technological intervention required to provide stability to the trees.

An expert committee consisting of urban ecologists has already identified such trees and given solutions to save the existing ones. But the recommendations have not been implemented,’’ Yellappa Reddy, former Secretary to the Government, Forest and Ecology, told this paper.

“Tree Architecture has been altered by various government departments mercilessly. They cause damage to the roots and branches and create tremendous imbalance in the tree. They are naturally uprooted,’’ he said.

“Underground surface is completely sealed and there is no space for the water to percolate. The roots cannot breathe, no water will go inside, causing dehydration for the trees, thus leaving no passage for new roots to dwell. Once the mechanical stability of the tree is lost, the tree life dwindles,’’ he added.

According to Suresh Heblikar, founder of Eco-Watch, the BMP should not go for soft wood tree plantation. “There are a number of tree species including pongemia, champak, rain tree, mahogany and Ashoka which are useful along the roadside and on the median. There are also some dwarf species which can be grown on smaller roads,’’ he said.

“There are nearly 120 tree species grown in the Bangalore, Kolar and Tumkur belt. Most are long lasting, useful and native species of this land. These trees should be given top priority as they are also efficient for absorbing carbon dioxide,’’ he added.

Rajeev Kumar, CEO, Project Agastya, said: “These flowering trees are naturally beautiful, but are not strong enough. Most ornamental trees were planted during British regime. In a public campaign we ecologists are urging plantation of mango, jackfruit and tamarind trees.’’

It’s now up to the BMP to implement the expert committee recommendations to save the tree density of the Garden City. With monsoon approaching there is an urgent need for tree rescue.