Tree Planting | World Environment Day
At ReStory, we understand that working for the environment is everyone’s responsibility. Our community and environment have done so much for us and it’s now our turn to return the favour. When we launched our brand, we did it with a plan to also give back to the environment, create a healthier climate, protect biodiversity and help reforestation efforts. And we knew that we wouldn't be able do it alone. It’s going to take all the citizens of India to come together and be the change.
As part of our first philanthropic project, we have decided to plant a tree for every order we receive for a period of 10 days till the 5th of June, to celebrate World Environment Day. We have collaborated with Krushi Farms, located in Khalapur, Maharashtra to help us plant the saplings. The saplings will be planted by/with the local tribes village dwellers to protect their habitat and way of life.
Forests play an important role in the lives of indigenous communities, who highly rely on forests for food security and livelihood through the collection of forest produces, with range of services as fuel and firewood, medicines, food and drink, fodder for livestock, housing materials and non-timber forest products for commercial purpose. The plantation of valued native trees will help restoring forests enhancing overall ecosystem services and rural economy.
Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat to over 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity. They also provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people, absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere, and are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines. There are the six pillars that explain why trees are vital:
Air: Trees help to clean the air we breathe. Through their leaves and bark, they absorb harmful pollutants and release clean oxygen for us to breathe. In urban environments, trees absorb pollutant gases like nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide, and sweep up particles like dust and smoke.
Water: Trees play a key role in capturing rainwater and reducing the risk of natural disasters like floods and landslides. Their intricate root systems act like filters, removing pollutants and slowing down the water’s absorption into the soil. This process prevents harmful waterslide erosion and reduces the risk of over-saturation and flooding.
Biodiversity: A single tree can be home to hundreds of species of insect, fungi, moss, mammals, and plants. Depending on the kind of food and shelter they need, different forest animals require different types of habitat. Without trees, forest creatures would have nowhere to call home.
Social Impact: From arborists to loggers and researchers, the job opportunities provided by the forestry industry are endless. We don’t just rely on trees for work, though. Sustainable tree farming provides timber to build homes and shelters, and wood to burn for cooking and heating. Food-producing trees provide fruit, nuts, berries, and leaves for consumption.
Health: Did you know that hospital patients with rooms overlooking trees recover faster than those without the same view? Trees help reduce stress and anxiety, and allow us to reconnect with nature. In addition, shade provided by tree coverage helps protect our skin from the ever-increasing harshness of the sun.
Climate: Trees help cool the planet by sucking in and storing harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into their trunks, branches, and leaves — and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. In cities, trees can reduce ambient temperatures by up to 8° Celsius. With more than 50% of the world’s population living in cities — pollution and overheating are becoming a real threat. Fortunately, a mature tree can absorb an average of 48 lbs of carbon dioxide per year, making cities a healthier, safer place to live.
Moringa is a plant that is often called the drumstick tree or the miracle tree. It has been used for centuries due to its medicinal properties and health benefits. It also has anti-fungal, antiviral, anti-depressant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
The Moringa tree is native to Maharashtra, India, where our donation will be delivered. The tree will put the tribal village on self-reliance path. The drumstick plant is extremely valuable in the production of nutritious food for the community as well as commercial sale. Every part of the moringa tree - it’s root, bark, leaves, seeds, are useful in Ayurvedic food and medicine making it extremely valuable.
The trees planted will alleviate the drought conditions as the trees planted will facilitate conservation of the water table, induce rainfall through transpiration and add humus to the soil. They also function to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They will enhance the soil's nutrition profile and impact agricultural output positively. Thus, the focus on the plantation of local tree species and creating sustainable livelihoods for the local people is an important step forward for the economy of the region.
Watch this space for updates on our tree plantation drive...
