THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Government and non-government organisations are joining hands to give a fresh lease to 54 ponds in Thiruvananthapuram district by planting 100 Vetiver saplings around each of the ponds.
Activist Sugathakumari will inaugurate the programme at 10.30 am on Thursday at the Eeyamvila Pond near Pangode. The vetiver will ensure adequate greenery to promote soil and water conservation, WWF-India said in a statement.
‘’This novel project and its unique approach to bring various like-minded individuals and institutions together to ensure the success and long-term sustainability of such a massive planting drive was envisioned by the Academy for Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (AMAS), an NGO based in Neyyattinkara. WWF-India is facilitating and financially supporting the project,’’ Renjan Mathew Varghese, state director, WWF-India, said. The Social Forestry Division, Forests and Wildlife Department, is providing the technical support, mainly by supplying 5000 saplings for the 54 selected ponds. NSS units attached to nearby schools and colleges around the selected ponds will plant and care for the vetiver saplings.
V K Unniyal, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry), will deliver the keynote address at Thursday’s function. For details, contact: A K Sivakumar, Senior Education Officer, WWF-India at 94473 86978/asivakumar@wwfindia.net
Earth Overshoot Day
This year, Earth Overshoot Day falls on Thursday, August 13. It means, humans have already spent earth’s ecological budget for the year, WWF-India said. Earth Overshoot Day marks the approximate date when humans have used more of earth’s renewable resources.