<p>Mysuru: Members of the Action Committee for Environment protection have succeeded in relocating and transplanting 4, 30-year-old Indian cork trees (akasha mallige), which had been uprooted on the premises of Kukkarahalli lake during heavy rains on Wednesday night. </p><p>The committee has saved the trees by pooling funds through crowdfunding. The cost touched about Rs 25000. </p><p>They were able to pull this off with the support of University of Mysore Vice Chancellor N K Lokanath, Horticulture officer Muzavar and with the technical guidance from retired Horticulture Director Ramakrishna and environmentalist Vasanth Kumar Mysoremath. </p> .<p>The action committee comprising about 18 organisations was formed after 40 trees were axed on Hyder Ali road.</p><p>Kamal Gopinath, member of the Committee and President, PUCL explained, "On Thursday, members ensured moisture of the roots was sustained through wet gunny bags and necessary watering.</p><p>A team of around 25 activists of the committee, including technical experts, visited the site on Friday. They decided it is feasible to transplant these fallen trees five to six feet away from their fallen positions on level ground with adequate distance between each, after trimming their branches appropriately. UoM came forward to lend its manpower and some equipment support. </p><p>"The Action Committee took up the initiative of crowdfunding from among its member organisations and its members towards meeting the expenses of JCB, Crane and other requirements. We started doing it from 10am and achieved our goal of transplantation within a strict timeline of six pm on Friday, as any delay would have sounded the death knell of the trees," he said. </p> .<p>Thanking people for the support added, "We received overwhelming support from our members for the initiative, which demonstrated the commitment of Mysureans in protecting the green cover of the city. The Committee was forced to halt the online crowdfunding initiative midway as the actual cost of the exercise became clear, and the crowdfunding continued unabated. The transplantation was completed (statement below) for Rs 24,6300, and the voluntary donations from 29 nature lovers exceeded this and touched Rs 66,666 from 10am to 3pm on Friday. </p><p>"The remaining donation amount of Rs 42,036 will be utilized for the Committee's various conservation activities, based on the suggestions from the environmentalists and tree activists, including the upkeep of the transplanted trees and saplings planted at other locations. We could prove that tree transplantation is possible, cost-effective," Kamal Gopinath added.</p><p>Members of Committee, Kamal Gopinath, Parashurame Gowda, Arun, Jayashekar, Leela Venkatesh, Bhagya Shankar, Gantaiah, Vasanth Kumar and Smitha were involved in this initiative. </p> .<p>K N Basavaraju, DCF Mysuru territorial division, said, "Earlier when Mysuru-Nanjangud road was widened, as many as 150 trees were translocated to Daivi Vana in Chamundi hill and Alanahalli tree park. They were six to seven year old ficus trees. As many as 30 could not survive," he said. </p><p>When asked why they could not explore relocating, transplanting 40 trees which were felled on Hyder Ali road, he said, "They were Peltophorum trees and their age was about 50 years. They were already 40 year old and their survival rate was very low. Hence we did not consider that option," he said. </p><p>T S Harsha, chairman, Department of Environmental Science, Karnataka State Open University, informed, "the decision to transplant a tree should be taken after evaluating its conditions (like form, health, structure, root system), size, species, significance, conservation value, suitability for transplanting, environmental factors and cost effectiveness."</p> .<p>Explaining the process of transplantation, he said, "they should dig trench around the tree to form a solid root ball. Keep the soil moist by watering it to maintain its integrity; wrap the root ball with burlap or tarp to prevent damage; Use cranes/loaders to transport large trees; excavate a hole wider and slightly deeper than the root ball. Loosen hole sides to encourage root penetration; place the tree at the original depth, backfill firmly, and remove air pockets. Water regularly during recovery, protect from external damage, and monitor stability," Harsha said. </p>
<p>Mysuru: Members of the Action Committee for Environment protection have succeeded in relocating and transplanting 4, 30-year-old Indian cork trees (akasha mallige), which had been uprooted on the premises of Kukkarahalli lake during heavy rains on Wednesday night. </p><p>The committee has saved the trees by pooling funds through crowdfunding. The cost touched about Rs 25000. </p><p>They were able to pull this off with the support of University of Mysore Vice Chancellor N K Lokanath, Horticulture officer Muzavar and with the technical guidance from retired Horticulture Director Ramakrishna and environmentalist Vasanth Kumar Mysoremath. </p> .<p>The action committee comprising about 18 organisations was formed after 40 trees were axed on Hyder Ali road.</p><p>Kamal Gopinath, member of the Committee and President, PUCL explained, "On Thursday, members ensured moisture of the roots was sustained through wet gunny bags and necessary watering.</p><p>A team of around 25 activists of the committee, including technical experts, visited the site on Friday. They decided it is feasible to transplant these fallen trees five to six feet away from their fallen positions on level ground with adequate distance between each, after trimming their branches appropriately. UoM came forward to lend its manpower and some equipment support. </p><p>"The Action Committee took up the initiative of crowdfunding from among its member organisations and its members towards meeting the expenses of JCB, Crane and other requirements. We started doing it from 10am and achieved our goal of transplantation within a strict timeline of six pm on Friday, as any delay would have sounded the death knell of the trees," he said. </p> .<p>Thanking people for the support added, "We received overwhelming support from our members for the initiative, which demonstrated the commitment of Mysureans in protecting the green cover of the city. The Committee was forced to halt the online crowdfunding initiative midway as the actual cost of the exercise became clear, and the crowdfunding continued unabated. The transplantation was completed (statement below) for Rs 24,6300, and the voluntary donations from 29 nature lovers exceeded this and touched Rs 66,666 from 10am to 3pm on Friday. </p><p>"The remaining donation amount of Rs 42,036 will be utilized for the Committee's various conservation activities, based on the suggestions from the environmentalists and tree activists, including the upkeep of the transplanted trees and saplings planted at other locations. We could prove that tree transplantation is possible, cost-effective," Kamal Gopinath added.</p><p>Members of Committee, Kamal Gopinath, Parashurame Gowda, Arun, Jayashekar, Leela Venkatesh, Bhagya Shankar, Gantaiah, Vasanth Kumar and Smitha were involved in this initiative. </p> .<p>K N Basavaraju, DCF Mysuru territorial division, said, "Earlier when Mysuru-Nanjangud road was widened, as many as 150 trees were translocated to Daivi Vana in Chamundi hill and Alanahalli tree park. They were six to seven year old ficus trees. As many as 30 could not survive," he said. </p><p>When asked why they could not explore relocating, transplanting 40 trees which were felled on Hyder Ali road, he said, "They were Peltophorum trees and their age was about 50 years. They were already 40 year old and their survival rate was very low. Hence we did not consider that option," he said. </p><p>T S Harsha, chairman, Department of Environmental Science, Karnataka State Open University, informed, "the decision to transplant a tree should be taken after evaluating its conditions (like form, health, structure, root system), size, species, significance, conservation value, suitability for transplanting, environmental factors and cost effectiveness."</p> .<p>Explaining the process of transplantation, he said, "they should dig trench around the tree to form a solid root ball. Keep the soil moist by watering it to maintain its integrity; wrap the root ball with burlap or tarp to prevent damage; Use cranes/loaders to transport large trees; excavate a hole wider and slightly deeper than the root ball. Loosen hole sides to encourage root penetration; place the tree at the original depth, backfill firmly, and remove air pockets. Water regularly during recovery, protect from external damage, and monitor stability," Harsha said. </p>