TIST
February 2007
CHEZHUMAI
What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another - Mahatma Gandhi
We are together with 314 Small Groups working on the ‘Best Practices’ and our mirror reflection is 7,00,000 trees in an effort to recreate the forest – TIST India
What to do with the naturally fallen and trimmed leaves?
Most of them burn the naturally fallen and trimmed leaves. This is as good as not growing trees. Leaves works continuously to sequester the carbon. When we burn the naturally fallen and trimmed leaves of trees, the carbon content in the atmosphere gets added and puts us behind in healing the atmosphere. The one and only best practice is to put those leaves all around the base of the tree.
Fallen leaves are one of the most concentrated sources of nutrients available, carrying 50 to 80 percent of the nutrients that a tree extracts from the soil and air. Fresh grass and plant trimmings are a rich source of nitrogen. These leaves get mixed with the soil and form natural manure, which is very good for the tree.
Sandalwood Trees
The word sandalwood in English, Chandan in Hindi, Santhanam in Tamil represent the precious and scented wood. ‘ Santulam album’ is the botanical name for the above species. Sandalwood tree is a small ever green tree with a moderate height of 12 – 15 Metres. Matured trees are covered with a dark brown to reddish bark. The smooth trunk of young trees turns rough with age and exhibits deep vertical cracks. The small leathery leaves display a range of greenish colors. The purplish brown flowers are small and unscented. Though the tree can grow under a variety of environmental conditions, the finest heartwood is formed only in dry, rocky and hilly terrain in Tamil Nadu.
What does our Government say about growing Sandalwood trees?
Sandalwood trees in patta lands
Every person who grows trees on any patta land held by him as owner, tenant, lessee and mortgage with possession or otherwise shall be the owner of such sandalwood trees. The sandalwood tree grown on any patta land shall be sold only to the Government (The Government have issued the said order vide Act No.33 of 2002 which was published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extra-ordinary No. 582, dated 03.09.2002). The date from which this Act shall come into force is to be notified by the Government. Other than these, there is no restriction for growing sandalwood in patta lands. (http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/CitiChart.htm).
Don’t allow the cattle’s destroy your trees?
Cattles are very useful living being for everyone, that too for farmer’s, cattle gives bread & butter. Learn to handle your cattle well. Keep them safe from disease. Most important is that, keep them away from your seedlings and trees. Seedlings and trees are your hard work and which would be giving you vouchers for several years. Do not let your cattles destroy the seedlings and trees.
Protect your Trees/Seedlings in Summer ?
Every year the summer season shows much change in the degree of Hotness of sunrays. It makes scarcity of water. A paramount need to take care of trees just planted / months long period is necessary. Conservation of water resources and protection of trees/seedlings is the vital responsibly of every member of TIST India Small Groups.
Proper water management of both our traditional and modern methods of water inundation systems should be followed. Inter cropping should be taken over to protect the newly planted trees during summer. Start short time crops like, groundnut as inter cropping. The available water can be watered to the groundnut, so that both the newly planted trees and groundnut share the water. Moreover, groundnut gives you good yield in just short period. Cultivating intercrops like cereals and pulses will protect soil moisture-ness and help to mitigate the dryness of soil, which leads to soil drought. This type of natural way of interdependence may help enhance/ keep moisture level to the required level of each newly planted trees necessity.
If you had excavated a form pond during rainy season, then the area all around the form pond should be wet now and during the coming summer. Cover that area.Do not allow the direct sunlight to hit that area. Make use of the water available in the form pond to water your trees/seedlings. You can also use the drip irrigation system. Organic wastes, farm residues, like hays of paddy millets and fodder items be spread encircling the trees growing. This would increase the longevity of moisture and humidity in the soil and create stability of moisture in the ground.
Do not keep your seedlings in open area; direct sunlight may burn your seedlings. Keep the seedlings near the area where you wash your cloths. Vessels etc. Little sprinkle of water a day would save your seedlings for months.
Chandiran Small Group of Mel Kodungalur
This Small Group was registered with TIST India during 2003. They belong to Singapalli Village. They started with few thousand Casuarina seedlings immediately after 2003. Depending upon their soil condition they started Eucalyptus seedlings too. By end 2005, they had more than 20,000 Casuarina and Eucalyptus trees in four different groves. During 2006, this Small Group started multiple species of seedlings like, Sandalwood, Pungai, Teak and Silverwood. This effort of planting multiple species is with effect to follow the ‘Best Practice’ of developing forest. The members of this Small Group take great care in saving the existing trees. They all attend Node meetings without fail and submit their SGMR.
TIST extends a big thanks to this Small Group for their great help in introducing 12 new Small Groups from Semboondi.
Nelli Small Group of Mel Kodungalur
This Small Group has been with TIST India since 2004. They have planted trees in Moodur Village, which falls under Vandhavasi Node. To start with they too planted Casuarinas trees, they gradually started to plant other species of trees like, Nelli and Teak. Nelli trees are rare species with TIST India Small Groups. During November 2006, they started a nursery with 2000 Teak Seedlings, which would be planted only after six months, i.e, after May 2007. Totally they have 33,000 Casuarina, 700 Teak & 312 Nelli Trees, and 2000 teak seedlings. The members attend the Node without fail and submit their SGMR, more important is that atleast one women member participate the Node from this Small Group.
Greenhouse Gas Agreement (GHG)
During January 2007, 19 Small Groups have signed the Greenhouse Gas Agreement (GHG), 13 Small Groups from Semboondi and 6 Small Groups from Mel Kodungalur Center have signed the GHG.
All the new Small Groups of Keeranallur Village are requested to sign the GHG during February 2007. Without the GHG agreement, your quarterly voucher cannot be generated.
P.Authi Krishnaswamy – Welcome onboard
He is a Post Graduate in Rural Services and presently, doing MBA in Project Management. He has large experience in Social Development Activities at village level. He is married; his wife A.Chitra is a School Teacher. He has two children, a daughter and a son.
Authi is a good writer, has written several books - couple of books on “Trees” too. He says that, “his natural liking towards trees and the abundant Social Development Activities at village level will help him to do great work for TIST India”.
Authi is designated as Program Coordinator, and 9840751497 can reach him. TIST India requests all the members to cooperate with him and make use of his expertise.
