Our survival depends on forests, from the oxygen we breathe to the wood we use. Forests offer more than just habitat for animals and means of subsistence for people. They also protect watersheds, stop soil erosion, and lessen the effects of climate change. However, despite our reliance on trees and water, we continue to let them perish.
Ramveer Tanwar, also known as Pond Man, is an environmentalist and TEDx speaker from Greater Noida who has been a water and forest conservation advocate since he was a student. He launched his "Jal Chaupal" and Urban Forest campaign in Uttar Pradesh, urging people to conserve water, trees and other natural resources to promote sustainable development.
With people like Tanwar we still have a ray of hope for a better tomorrow. Let us find more about his project here in this segment. When did you start this project? After graduation, I took my first step toward plant and water preservation. At first, it was limited to our village, but gradually, this project turned out great. Today we are working with seven states in India toward pond rehabilitation and preservation. Additionally, we are planting more trees to form dense forest structures near cities where there is a dearth of fresh air and greenery due to confined areas and high pollution.
Why are Municipal corporations not able to provide sustainable development so far? Urban corporations focus more on providing better education and health facilities, improving infrastructure, etc. They are only concerned about providing better amenities and resources to the growing urban population. Sustainable development is still missing. I believe the corona taught us an important lesson about plants when everywhere there was a hue and cry for oxygen. It is high time we turned towards nature as it is the only solution for our survival. Therefore, on 21st March 2021, we began our forestation project from Gaziabad, UP, and planted around 2000 trees there. It was just for trial's sake. However, looking at the success, the municipal corporation asked us to continue the good work. And so far, we have developed six small forests around Delhi, NCR.
What is so special about Miya Baki Forest? Miya Baki Forest consists of special plants that grow ten times faster than a normal plant. Therefore, for the plant becomes a fully grown tree in ten years, the same plant would become a fully grown tree at Miya Baki within two years. Additionally, it is thirty times dense than normal forests.
"When a person steps inside Miya Baki, he completely disappears only within moments because of the forest density."
One more important feature of our forests is that no human intervention is required after the project gets over and the forest takes its shape completely. We don't need to disturb whatever animals or reptiles, such as snakes, monitor lizards, or other creatures, are roaming there. These forests are meant to produce oxygen and promote biodiversity; we let them do their job.
Tell us something about your Miya Baki approachWe use the Miya Baki, the Japanese concept of the plantation. However, we make a few changes necessary for our climatic requirements and biodiversity. First, we analyse the soil type and make it suitable for plants by adding compost and making it fertile. Then we prepare a chart with 30-51 plant varieties to be planted on a particular plot.
"The way humans need support from each other, so do plants."
However, we need to be careful while combining types of plants, as every plant has its requirements and properties. E.g., we cannot plant Banyan and Peepal together; otherwise, they may not survive when fully grown as they are both huge in size. Thus we make sure to combine medium and big-size trees together. Other factors such as small insects and birds too are kept in mind while adding plantsb. E.g., butterflies and bees need flower nectar, and some birds require medium size trees to lay eggs while others are big size trees, so we design our forests for all such creatures.
What makes this project successful? How do you arrange funds and support?Plants need proper soil and care to grow. We can add numerous stuff to prepare powerful manure. We add rice husk, cocopeat, neem bark, jeevamrit, vermicompost, and manure to increase soil fertility. Each has its benefits; e.g., rice husk doesn't let the soil dry and keeps it soft. Likewise, cocopeat helps to retain the water for longer periods, neem bark doesn't let the plant rot, and jeevamrit allows good bacteria to grow. Lastly, manure and vermicompost provide essential nutrients to the plant.
Govt. grant us plots and extend its support; we arrange funds through CSR. Once the forest gets fully developed, we handover it over to the Govt. Though after the project is accomplished, there is little or no need for the forest's maintenance, the Govt. is entirely responsible for it.
ConclusionA balanced biodiversity is key for the healthy sustenance of this planet. Forests like Miyabaki are the only way to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Tanwar has also established the non-profit organisation "Say Earth," which focuses on environmental awareness, urban forestry, and water body restoration. Tanwar has helped revitalise and repair more than 40 ponds and lakes throughout India. For the restoration of waterbodies and awareness campaigns, he also serves as a consultant for several business organisations and governmental agencies.
Let us promote such initiatives and try to preserve our nature by planting more trees and avoiding wasting water and other resources. Let us together make this world a better place.
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