TIST
SEPTEMBER 2007
CHEZHUMAI
Have you told your relatives/friends in the neighboring village about TIST? Tell them; let them also enjoy the benefits from TIST.
Kyoto Protocol
Over the past several decades, rising concentrations of greenhouse gases have been detected in the Earth’s atmosphere. It has been hypothesized that the continued accumulation of greenhouse gases could lead to an increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface and cause a variety of changes in the global climate, sea level, agricultural patterns, and ecosystems that could be, on net, detrimental. The text of the Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted at the United Nations on May 9, 1992, and opened for signature at Rio de Janeiro on June 4.
The objective of the Framework Convention was to “. . . achieve . . . stabilization of the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” The signatories agreed to formulate programs to mitigate climate change, and the developed country signatories agreed to adopt national policies to return anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases to their 1990 levels. On December 1 through 11, 1997, representatives from more than 160 countries met in Kyoto, Japan, to negotiate binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for developed nations. The resulting Kyoto Protocol established emissions targets for each of the participating developed countries— the Annex I countries2— relative to their 1990 emissions levels. The targets range from an 8-percent reduction for the European Union (or its individual member states) to a 10- percent increase allowed for Iceland. The target for the United States is 7 percent below 1990 levels. The first and second Conference of the Parties in 1995 and 1996 agreed to address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions for the period beyond 2000, and to negotiate quantified emission limitations and reductions for the third Conference of the Parties. The International Small Group and Tree Planting Programme (TIST) is an organisation of mobilising farmers in developing countries in order to get the benefits of ‘Kyoto Protocol’ carbon trading activities.
Quantifiers, quantifying the casuarina trees
TIST was started at Tanzania, an African country in 1999. After that it expands to Uganda, Kenya and India. In India, TIST started its activities in Northern parts of Tamil Nadu during 2002. TIST activities can be classified into two major heads, i.e, a) Green House Group (GHG); and b) Sustainable development. Even though, TIST activities are based on GHG, same level of importance is given to the sustainable development of rural agriculture. There are around 30,000 farmers working under TIST throughout the world. They are subdivided into small groups and each group formulates their action plan. TIST supervises the small groups’ activities and empowers them by giving assistance in different forms.
Form Pond
Farm pond is yet other important activity for the areas where there is less rainfall. Planned ridges & furrows will accumulate rain water in one corner of your form pond. For one hectare, the dimensions of the farm pond should be 40 x 10 x 1.5 m. It can hold 600 m3 of rainwater when it is full. Water in the farm pond will be there for 30 to 40 days after last rain and can be utilized for pot watering twice using family labour to the trees. This pond, will not only hold, run off water but also act as silt setting pool and thus could retain 4 to 6 of eroded, nutrient enriched top soil of the land every year. The settled silt in the pond after drying can be removed and applied to the tree species as a source of organic nutrient. If the seasonal rainfall of the tract is wide spread, and if the stagnation of water in the pond is going to be more than 31/2 to 4 months, “kelithi or gendai”, a local fish can also be reared in the farm pond like the Chittoor lake (which is a common lake). If it is your own land, it will be your own. This would yield 30 to 40 kg of fish meat at the time of drying of the pond. An extra income of Rs.750 to 1,000 can be achieved through the sale of fish.
Bhaval Small Group, Semboondy
We the members of Bhaval Small Group first wish to thank the TIST India. We have planted four different tree species in our lands, which is almost one year old now. On the first Saturday of every month we have our Node meeting, which is scheduled from 7 pm to 8 pm. Our women members participate in the Node meeting in good strength. We are planning to plant more trees during the coming rainy season. TIST India distributes the voucher and makes the payment promptly. We get good and useful information through TIST India. A lonely tree cannot become a forest, likewise, a single man cannot become a society. We all should help TIST India to get more members, more small groups and help TIST India to perform its activity smoothly – This is a request from the Semboondy Node to all the members and small groups of TIST India. We request TIST India to get one Palm Top & GPS exclusively for Semboondy, so that, we all can learn the usage of the same and help TIST India. TIST India conducted drawing competition at Semboondy and distributed prizes to the winners on the spot.
S.Vinayagam, Bhaval Small Group, Semboondy
Green Land Small Group, Keeranallur
Green Land Small Group joined TIST India during June 2007. This Small Group belongs to Madhuramangalam village, which is next to Keeranallur Village. The members of this Small Group have planted about 25,000 Eucalyptus trees in their land. They are also ready with Teak Seedlings to plant during this rainy season. When TIST approached these members to plant trees, the members showed great interest and the TIST incentive sounded great for them. The members of this Small Group took initiative to spread the TIST Program, they spoke about the tree planting program in the village farmers meeting at Madhuramangalam, a meeting organised by Canara Bank of Madhuramangalam Branch. Two more new Small Groups have joined TIST India after this farmers meeting. The members say that, TIST Program would be of good help in their future. Members of Keeranallur Village.
Members of Keeranallur Village
News from the New Small Groups of Madhuramangalam
We plant trees like, Mango, Jack Fruit, Coconut, Casuarina, Cashew. These trees get us yield only after few years, but TIST India, the International Tree Planting Program helps us with voucher payment from the beginning of our planting. TIST India gives us incentive for all our live trees from the day of our planting or from the day we have started our nursery. We get money for all our live trees for life long, so we all will join in TIST Tree Planting Program and get the benefits.
“We will plant, we will plant, we will plant trees We will get, we will get, we will get money”
Madhuramangalam Members
Thirupandhiyur Node
Thiruipandhiyur is also know as Pannur. Thirupandhiyur would be upcoming new Node Center in TIST India for the tree planting program. More than 30 new Small Groups are expected to join in and around Thirupandhiyur Village very shortly. The new members have planned to plant Teak, Mango, Eucalyptus and Casuarina in their land. Few members have started to prepare their land for planting trees. The members of this village are in great interest towards TIST Program.
Gandhi Farmers Society
All the members of Gandhi Farmers Society have shown interest to join in TIST Small Groups.
Gandhi Farmers Society is doing its farming activity along with Canara Bank of Madhuramangalam Branch. Several farmers have joined together to form this Society and they all are doing good work in it. The members of this Society meet at the Canara Bank, Madhuramangalam Branch once in a month to discuss about their farming activities. During the September month meeting, which was scheduled on 5th of September, the activities of TIST Tree Planting Program were explained in detail. The Program Director of TIST India, A.Joseph Rexon gave a special speech during the meeting. He explained all about TIST activity and in what all ways the villagers would get benefited through TIST Program. He also explained about the development of villagers and environment through TIST Program. The Branch Manager, Canara Bank, Madhuramangalam advised the members of Gandhi Farmers Society to make use of TIST Program. The meeting was organized well.
Semboondy Women Members