Using the knowledge of senior botanists, nature lovers initiated an experimental effort in Odisha’s Berhampur on Sunday to cure trees affected by human activities by using traditional ingredients.
Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) chairperson Subash Moharana, Forest Department officials, city MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik, Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashis Behera, environmental activists and several botanists took part in the initiative started by Sabuja Bahini, Anchalika Vikash Parishad and other organisations.
For the past one week, efforts are on to remove metal nails, wires and publicity materials from the trunk of the trees in and around Berhampur as they are the reason behind the slow death of trees.
Posters on tree trunks
“It was seen that toxic metallic oxides produced through corrosion had started to damage the internal parts of these trees. Fungal infection caused by posters nailed on tree trunks was a major problem. So, it was decided to take up some measures to heal the wounds,” said Mr. Behera.
Traditional methods
Senior botanists — Prof. Sachidananda Padhi and Prof. Brahmabihari Panda — were consulted to provide remedial measures. “As plants have great self-healing power, we decided to provide natural remedies to them which would help them heal the wounds by themselves,” said Prof. Padhi. “So, we decided to experiment with a concoction comprising turmeric, neem leaves, gobar [cattle dung] and clay collected from ponds,” said Prof. Panda. No chemical ingredients like modern pesticides or fungicides were used in the mixture.
In the concoction, turmeric and neem serve as disinfectants for the wounds and fungal infections while gobar and clay help the plant cells to regenerate. On Sunday morning, environmental activists along with the DFO, local MLA, BeDA chairman and botanists filled up the wounds found on the tree trunks with the concoction.
Sibaram Panigrahy of Sabuja Bahini said that as the process involved no costly materials, the general public should start saving the trees in their area through this process in future.
Chyau Patnaik, a physician, said he got involved in the medical treatment of plants for the first time.
Dr. Patnaik said in the coming Assembly session, he will try to bring a private member Bill to save trees in urban areas from getting damaged by human interventions.
The Super Cyclone of 1999, Phailin of 2013 and the Hudhud in 2014 had uprooted several big trees in Berhampur. Efforts are on to save the trees and provide them longevity, said Mr. Moharana.
