AURANGABAD: As many as 500 women from rural and urban areas of Latur planted 5,000 saplings of 70 different species under the plantation drive on Tuesday.
Women, including school teacher and college professors, took part in the drive organised under the aegis of the Mission Green Earth, the Art of Living (AOL) and International Association for Human Values at Nagzari village and Manjara River Rejuvenation Project.
Mahadeo Gomare, state project director of the Art of Living, said that “As the world reels under devastating effects of climate change, with Australian bushfires claiming billions of animal lives and the Amazon losing critical biodiversity, people are looking at solutions to combat and reverse these effects.’’
One powerful way in this fight against climate change is by planting more saplings to increase the green cover, and support agroforestry that has far reaching environmental and economic benefits for everyone, and particularly for farmers, he said.
“Rural women are the key to supply food, water, nutrition and everything necessary to sustain their village. Their role within the community is indispensable. They are the most affected by the reduction in rainfall, depleting soil nutrients and low-quality food. With this programme, we want to bring women belonging to different walks of life together to plant trees and be an agent of change for securing food, nutrition and water for the community, “ said Gomare.
Gomare said that due to the changing climate patterns, the cultivation of plants in Marathwada and Vidarbha is the only option to maintain economic stability in the region. Tree plantation helps farmers earn extra income. Farmers will be able to thrive and can gain economic stability. Plantation helps to increase the rainfall, maintain it consistently and increase the water turnover in the soil.
He also said an International Women’s Conference will be organised between February 14 and 16 in Bangalore, where 500 women leaders from across the globe will take the Mission Green Earth forward by pledging to plant 10 million saplings in the next two years.
Courtesy: Times Of India
