To,
Mr. BALAMURUGESAN S
General Technical Manager (MTK)
Machine Tools Division,
HMT Limited,
HMT Colony P.O. Kalamassery 683 503,
Ernakulam Dist.
Dear Sir,
Sub:- Afforestation drive in HMT Campus in Kalamassery- faulty implementation - reg.
This has reference to the move now underway in the Kalamassery campus of HMT Limited, to plant trees in a haphazard manner, especially large numbers of teak saplings in a monoculture fashion.
We deeply appreciate the initiative of the HMT Limited and the Kerala Forest Department, to plant trees in the HMT campus (even as it is necessitated by the obligation to plant trees, in lieu of large areas of natural tree cover mowed down for Kochi Metro Casting yard) . We are also very much concerned that the move is an ill executed and done in a completely unscientific and haphazard manner, probably wasting public resources on an ill conceived scheme.
Grounds:
A large part of the area where tree saplings are now planted is an ecologically degraded land area – which was degraded in the first place by mowing down the largely undisturbed patch of natural tree cover ,for the metro casting yard.
This calls for an approach applying the principles of ecological restoration.
We are very much concerned that a large area of the land is planted with teak saplings in a monoculture plantation fashion.
This is a completely ill thought out move-so to say. We tried to talk to the senior Officials of both HMT limited, and the Social forestry Division, Ernakulam, and expressed our concern over the manner in which the tree planting is being done and especially the decision to plant teak trees in a monoculture plantation mode. The reason expressed by these officials is that it will economically benefit for HMT Ltd., as and when the plantation can be cut and sold.
Teak is a notoriously water guzzling tree species - even more so than the eucalyptus and wattle .
Teak plantation depletes the ground water table of this area, thereby affecting the water security and livelihood of the people of the surrounding area.
The argument that it will economically benefit the HMT ltd, is also a fallacy as it will take 50-60 year for trees to grow large enough to be economically beneficial, by the time which, the plantation will have depleted enough ground water to cause serious damage to the environment.This is unpardonable as we all are facing mass extinctions, unprecedented floods and droughts and many other ecological and environmental catastrophes ,in the face of which we cannot bring more damages to the environment, by our thoughtless actions.
One more thing is that the teak tree plantations suck up all nutrients from the soil so much that the area planted will be barren and damaged ecologically beyond repair, whereby other trees and plants won't be able to grow healthy.
Another thing we noticed is that the saplings already planted are of inferior quality apparently ,as they are already showing signs of wilting.
Therefore we propose that ,
The unscientific tree planting drive be stopped forthwith.
The services of ecological restoration experts in planting of the trees may be obtained.
The trees suitable for the elevation, agro climate conditions, soil nature,and the ecological niche be selected as per the advice of the experts.
Principles such as associated species and complementary species be observed while planting is done.
Indigenous, threatened and endemic species suitable for are may be selected for planting.
Ideas like the Mixed Species Forest Plantation may be explored as per the advice of the experts.
The planting may be done as per the advice of the experts keeping the mixed tree species planting concept. This will increase the structural complexity of the plantation thereby enhancing the biodiversity and the ecosystem functioning of the area.
As you are very well aware of, sufficient expertise in restoration ecology , afforestation practices etc., are available in Kerala, such as, Kerala Agricultural University(College of Forestry) , etc.,
This available pool of expertise must be utilized and the participation of local NGOS and the general population in the surrounding areas may be obtained and utilized so that the replanting drive is a long term ecological success story.
We once again appreciate and reaffirm our solidarity with the decision to plant trees in HMT Campus Kalamassery.
Sincerely Yours,
Sd/-
Secretary
Cochin Natural History Society
Reg.No.: ER 18/10 of 2010
Regd. Office:
(Klathil) Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P O, ALUVA-683561.
Telephone No.: 9446437410
e-Mail:-cochinnaturalhistorysociety@gmail.com
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Blog :- http://cochinnaturalhistorysociety.blogspot.in/
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