MyTree Chronicles

Environmental stewardship blossoms as dense forestation projects proliferate

The dense forestation projects initiated by MyTree teams across the country have blossomed beautifully under the watchful gaze and regular monitoring of MyTree volunteers and designated Green Ambassadors and the dedicated participation of young school children and university students, demonstrating the transformative power of environmental stewardship since 2021.

Join us as we chronicle the journeys of our projects in the cities of Bengaluru and Hyderabad even as we focus on future plantation projects.

Bangalore University Biopark, Bengaluru

The plantation projects at Bangalore University in 2021 have witnessed a significant transformation with 2,500 native tree saplings forming a lively canopy at various locations through the past four years.

Year 2021

On 26 June 2021, enthusiastic MyTree volunteers launched Phase 1 of sapling plantation at the Bangalore University BioPark to plant 100 native tree saplings, including Nandi, Guli Maavu, Honne, Bagini, Seeta Ashoka, and Bilwa. The BioPark, home to rare native species, birds, and butterflies, has been actively reforested over the past six years with over 130 different species of trees.

Year 2022

Through the year, four plantation drives spearheaded by groups of volunteers, including children, witnessed the plantation of 668 saplings:

• 26 January 2022: 260 tree saplings of Hebbalasu, Mango, Tamarind, Mahogany, Seegey, and Seeta Ashoka
• 13 February 2022: 100 saplings of fruit-bearing trees, including Appe Midi, Nimbe, Hebbalasu, Ramphala, Bettadnelli, Starfruit, and Mangalore Sebu at the Environmental Science Department of Bangalore University.
• 5 June 2022: 200 saplings of fruit-bearing trees selected by university students and professors in celebration of World Environment Day. Percolation pits were also constructed, integrating MyTree and Satsang Jal Seva Sangatan initiatives.
• 6 November 2022: 108 Gulabi mara saplings were planted at Panchavati, a sacred meditative space with Bilwa, Amla, Peepal, Seeta Ashoka, and Banyan trees to commemorate Founder’s Day.

Years 2023, 2024

MyTree and ExNoRa International volunteers collaborated with IOCL Karnataka to successfully plant 1,390 tree saplings of native species marking the Carbon Neutralization for India Energy Week (6-8 Feb 2023). The trees included Mahogany, Nerale, Badami, Honne, Honge, Beete, Tapise, Burga, Lagstomia, Kadamba, Spathodia, Toremati, and Beve.

With quarterly monitoring and maintenance visits, as of February 2024, all 1,390 saplings continued to be nurtured through regular watering, weeding, and manure application.

Government Model School and Junior College, Hyderabad

Year 2023

On 11 February 2023, volunteers of MyTree, ExNoRa International, and AGS Health worked in unison with school children at Government Model School and Junior College at Tellapur, Hyderabad to help carve out an urban dense forest on the school premises. 500 saplings of neem, peepal, guava, amla, jamun, and others of flowering varieties were planted during Phase 1.

During Phase 2, 200 children from Grades 7 and 8 gathered up two saplings each and planted 500 saplings of trees such as guava, lime, jamun, gulmohar,  rosia  spotodia, neem, Australian teak, and teoma arjoria with the help of their teachers and MyTree volunteers on 25 February 2023. Dried saplings planted during Phase 1 were replaced with new saplings.

The installation of a drip water irrigation system and constant care of a Green Ambassador living on the premises ensured that the tender saplings were nurtured through the seasonal transitions.

Year 2024

MyTree volunteers continued to monitor the growth of the saplings every quarter to ensure the maintenance of the urban dense forest and replaced 109 dried saplings with 200 new ones during the first year of the plantation. During these visits, the installation of a sanitary pad dispenser by Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers in collaboration with PaySwiff helped support the well-being of the girl students.

Year 2025

The second year has yielded great results with some of the saplings having grown to a height of 15 feet, standing tall and proud in an enchanted, little forest. On 8 February 2025, MyTree volunteers accompanied the new principal and a few children from Grades 6 and 7 for a short walk through the mini forest. Sun birds and other songsters filled the air with their melodies as the children explored the forest, amazed to rediscover this wooded corner at one end of their playground filled with young trees and lush undergrowth, a cozy habitat for rabbits and squirrels, and countless insects.

Adgaon Region, Nashik

Sapling nurseries, consisting of over 1000 native saplings such as Peepal, Banyan, Bakul, Neem, and Cluster fig, lovingly nurtured by young school children in Nashik under the banner of the Aviral Godavari Mission, are ready to be transplanted into the Adgaon region of Nashik in the catchment of River Godavari by the second week of March 2025.

To join our volunteers or know more about our projects, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org