How can we save How can we save Bangalore ?Bangalore ?

Who are we?Who are we?

We are We are Environmentalists Environmentalists working towards working towards spreading spreading awareness in awareness in Bangalore about the Bangalore about the need to plant treesneed to plant trees

What we do?What we do?• We study the different We study the different

changes which have changes which have occurred in Bangalore occurred in Bangalore due to cutting of trees.due to cutting of trees.

• We come out with We come out with solutions to combat the solutions to combat the problem.problem.

• We create awareness We create awareness among the community among the community to spread awareness on to spread awareness on the need of planting the need of planting trees.trees.

To prevent To prevent deforestation in deforestation in the locality?the locality?

Our Task

Result of Survey conducted Result of Survey conducted in Bangalorein Bangalore

Areas in Areas in BangaloreBangalore

Number of Number of Trees cutTrees cut

Sampige Sampige RoadRoad

3838

Bull Temple Bull Temple RoadRoad

5858

Gandhi Gandhi BazaarBazaar

AllAll

Dr Rajkumar Dr Rajkumar RoadRoad

3535

Details of surveyDetails of survey We visited the We visited the

surrounding areas of surrounding areas of our school and some of our school and some of us visited areas which us visited areas which were closer to our were closer to our houses. The areas houses. The areas visited were visited were Sampige Sampige Road ,Bull Temple Road ,Bull Temple Road, Gandhi Bazaar,Dr Road, Gandhi Bazaar,Dr Rajkumar RoadRajkumar Road

We took 5 days 21We took 5 days 21stst Aug to 25Aug to 25thth August ’08 August ’08 To complete the surveyTo complete the survey

Facts we came to know during Facts we came to know during

the surveythe survey

•According to a report by the Environment Support According to a report by the Environment Support Group," the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike” starting Group," the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike” starting March 2005, has been chopping trees lining Bangalore’s March 2005, has been chopping trees lining Bangalore’s avenues in the name of widening roads to ease traffic avenues in the name of widening roads to ease traffic congestion.congestion.

•As on 21 April 2007, a lot of trees have been chopped” As on 21 April 2007, a lot of trees have been chopped” – the list is long and shocking.– the list is long and shocking.

•Bangalore urban area is eating over the green belt , Bangalore urban area is eating over the green belt , 6,295 acres of farmland has already been lost and it 6,295 acres of farmland has already been lost and it continues to spread. This has reduced the belt by 4.28 continues to spread. This has reduced the belt by 4.28 per cent in the last 10 years per cent in the last 10 years •Bangalore Development Authority recently announced a Bangalore Development Authority recently announced a master plan that would further reduce the greenbelt by master plan that would further reduce the greenbelt by 2015.2015.

Comparative chart showing Comparative chart showing Bangalore before and nowBangalore before and now

Bangalore Before

35%

65%

Urban Area

Green belt area

Bangalore Now

67%

33%Urban Area

Green belt area

SolutionsSolutions Conduct tree census and index each and every Conduct tree census and index each and every

tree on public and private land and should be tree on public and private land and should be duly marked on current and future Development duly marked on current and future Development plans.plans.

All trees should be protected like endangered All trees should be protected like endangered species and prohibit cutting, trimming activities species and prohibit cutting, trimming activities anywhere in the city jurisdiction.anywhere in the city jurisdiction.

Before approving any construction plans a forest Before approving any construction plans a forest department NOC should be mandated, any department NOC should be mandated, any vacant land which has trees older than 5+ years vacant land which has trees older than 5+ years must modify the designs to protect the current must modify the designs to protect the current trees.trees.

All trees on the roads must be monitored at least All trees on the roads must be monitored at least on monthly basis to protect them from termite on monthly basis to protect them from termite and human attacks such as nailing posters and and human attacks such as nailing posters and advertisements.advertisements.

All current tree conservationists who have five All current tree conservationists who have five or more trees in their premise aging more than or more trees in their premise aging more than 10 years should get 10% tax rebate and support 10 years should get 10% tax rebate and support for monitoring them.for monitoring them.

Any tree cutting should require approval from Any tree cutting should require approval from CM’s office under an affidavit notified via CM’s office under an affidavit notified via magistrate after obtaining forest department magistrate after obtaining forest department NOC. More importantly this notification for NOC. More importantly this notification for cutting should be advertised to invite objections cutting should be advertised to invite objections from public if this tree is on public land.from public if this tree is on public land.

All offences on trees should be treated at par All offences on trees should be treated at par with humans and major punishments like with humans and major punishments like imprisonment with fat fines…the amount imprisonment with fat fines…the amount collected should e used to enhance monitoring. collected should e used to enhance monitoring. Reporting any such offence via citizens should Reporting any such offence via citizens should be rewarded 50% of the fine collected. A ‘tree be rewarded 50% of the fine collected. A ‘tree helpline’ should be constituted and publicized. helpline’ should be constituted and publicized. Even police have to support such called Even police have to support such called received on the number 100received on the number 100

Solutions contd…Solutions contd…

A city tax should be levied on all properties which do A city tax should be levied on all properties which do not have earmarked space for trees within the not have earmarked space for trees within the premise for sites which are more than 40x60 in premise for sites which are more than 40x60 in dimension; all smaller sites should have a reservation dimension; all smaller sites should have a reservation for one vacant space on the same road against 10 for one vacant space on the same road against 10 houses sold.houses sold.

All apartments should have provided for one tree per All apartments should have provided for one tree per resident duly maintain by the resident. resident duly maintain by the resident.

All localities should form a tree committee and All localities should form a tree committee and govern the trees and coordinate with forest govern the trees and coordinate with forest department to help conserve them, best committees department to help conserve them, best committees should be rewarded with tax rebates for entire should be rewarded with tax rebates for entire neighborhood…neighborhood…

All advertisements, cables put/pulled on/upon the All advertisements, cables put/pulled on/upon the trees should be removed and any deviations should trees should be removed and any deviations should be reported via a toll free tree helpline or dedicated be reported via a toll free tree helpline or dedicated websitewebsite

Solutions contd…Solutions contd…

Large urbanization projects should provide for budgets Large urbanization projects should provide for budgets for relocation of trees if coming in way and ensure for relocation of trees if coming in way and ensure proper technologies are in place to safeguard the proper technologies are in place to safeguard the wellbeing of each individual tree being moved or wellbeing of each individual tree being moved or relocated.relocated.

All advertisement holdings should be removed if they All advertisement holdings should be removed if they cause any disturbance on growth of any tree directly cause any disturbance on growth of any tree directly or indirectly.or indirectly.

Perhaps these measures could help us Perhaps these measures could help us sustain this green wealth and help sustain this green wealth and help restore the loss already caused to this restore the loss already caused to this beautiful city….beautiful city….

Solutions contd…Solutions contd…

The seedlingThe seedlingEco-ClubEco-Club

We the students of JSS Public School have Formed We the students of JSS Public School have Formed this Eco-Club to create awareness about the effects this Eco-Club to create awareness about the effects of deforestation and its effect on the environment .of deforestation and its effect on the environment .

We have as a part of the club have all the We have as a part of the club have all the students ,teachers and a few parents who are students ,teachers and a few parents who are helping us in this endeavor .helping us in this endeavor .

As a part of the activities of the club we conduct As a part of the activities of the club we conduct awareness events for community members in the awareness events for community members in the school premises ,collect funds for planting of trees school premises ,collect funds for planting of trees every 15 days in different localities and create every 15 days in different localities and create awareness among the residents about deforestation awareness among the residents about deforestation and effect it has on our life. we enroll the residents and effect it has on our life. we enroll the residents as members and give them the onus to look after as members and give them the onus to look after the plants the plants

We Request you to become members of the club We Request you to become members of the club and help us to make Bangalore a better place.and help us to make Bangalore a better place.

ReferencesReferences http://bangalorebuzz.blogspot.com/2007/04/green-turnihttp://bangalorebuzz.blogspot.com/2007/04/green-turni

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for for http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/

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http://www.discoverbangalore.com/greenery.htmhttp://www.discoverbangalore.com/greenery.htm http://farm1.static.flickr.com/http://farm1.static.flickr.com/

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Thank YouThank You