Rotary and Siruthuli Plant 1,000 Saplings in Pachapalayam, Target One Lakh Trees Across Coimbatore

Coimbatore: A stretch of vacant red-soil land in Perur Pachapalayam has been transformed as students, volunteers and members of Rotary and Siruthuli came together to plant and water saplings, sowing the seeds of a greener future for Coimbatore.

The 'Rotary Unite Vanam' initiative, launched on Wednesday, aims to plant one lakh trees across Coimbatore district during the current Rotary year. The project was inaugurated by Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar at Perur Pachapalayam, bringing together Rotary West and environmental NGO Siruthuli to expand the district's green cover.

The inauguration was attended by Vanitha Mohan, Managing Trustee of Siruthuli; the Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department; and Rtn. R.S. Maruti, District Governor of Rotary District 3206. Rotary representatives, students and volunteers also participated in the tree-planting drive.

As part of the initiative, around 25,000 to 30,000 saplings are planned to be planted across five acres of land at Pachapalayam. The project brings together 78 Rotary clubs functioning under Rotary District 3206. During the inaugural event, 1,000 saplings were planted, marking the first phase of the initiative.

The saplings were planted using the Miyawaki method, which promotes the growth of dense vegetation in a relatively small area. The plot, belonging to the HR&CE Department, came alive with activity as participants prepared the soil, planted saplings and watered them, marking the beginning of a long-term greening effort.

Speaking about the initiative, Chandrasekar, President of the Rotary Club of Coimbatore West, said 1,000 saplings were planted during the first phase. He noted that the effects of rising temperatures were becoming more pronounced amid climate change, El Niño influences and heatwaves. Emphasising the importance of safeguarding natural resources, he said humans could not artificially create air or water and stressed the need to plant and nurture more trees to ensure clean air and adequate water resources for future generations.

Siruthuli will lead the implementation of the project, with the Rotary Club of Coimbatore West coordinating the initiative. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from three organisations will support the project. Through the collective participation of Rotary clubs and environmental volunteers, the initiative aims to achieve its target of planting one lakh trees across Coimbatore district, the organisers said.

With Coimbatore receiving spells of Northeast monsoon rain over the past week, the timing could prove favourable for the newly planted saplings to establish their roots in the rain-fed soil. With sustained care and nurturing, the once-barren stretch could gradually turn into a thriving green landscape by the next monsoon, bringing the vision of a dense urban woodland closer to reality.