A coastal town known for its beautiful mangroves, Kannur, is the only district in Kerala to be free of single used plastic. The district achieved this feat with campaigns like Green Election, Plastic Free Kannur, and Waste Free Kannur. Now, the district is focusing on a campaign to add more greenery.
This new campaign was launched from August 19 and is known as the Memory Tree Campaign. It is as part of the Harita Keralam Mission, a Kerala government mission for environmental protection by encouraging people to plant trees on special days.
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, DC Kannur S. Chandrasekar said that they aim to create a plantation culture among the public. The administration will encourage people to plant trees in public places on special days, like foundation day of institutions and organizations, birthday of individuals, memorial day of deceased persons, wedding anniversary, wedding day, and so on.
PROMOTING AFFORESTATION
The district level inauguration of the campaign was held at Kannur Collectorate by District Panchayat President P.P. Divya on 19August. On the occasion, a plantation drive was organised where various organisations from different parts of the district took part. Since then, more than 40,000 saplings have been planted.
Haritha Keralam Mission Coordinator in Kannur, Mr. Soman said, “The programme aims to promote afforestation, and what would be the best way than collaborating memories with trees. The administration is providing saplings for this drive. Organisations and institutions can plant these in their vicinity or at any public place.”
MEMORY TREE PLANTATION
Individuals, too, have been paying tributes to their loved ones by planting saplings in their memory. Collector Chandrasekar said that net zero emission of carbon is one of the key operational targets of both the union government and the state government. The state government has decided to reach the target by 2050 and the union government by 2070. “One of the main aspects of the Harita Keralam Mission is the cooperation of various agencies. Memory plantation is part of that,” he added.
PRIORITY TO FRUIT TREES
The district administration is giving priority to planting fruit trees and has been appealing to the public to participate or conduct such drives on their birthdays and weddings. Collector Chandrasekar said that trees are a very important part of the ecology, and if we plant a tree today, it will provide fruits for many generations. “Also, a simple ceremony of plantation can make someone live in memories forever. Hence, we are promoting the Memory Tree Plantation,” he added.
