Pune: PMC To Launch 'Tree Ambulance' On World Environment Day To Safeguard City's Green Cover
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced the launch of a 'Tree Ambulance' initiative, set to start on World Environment Day on June 5. This initiative has been initiated to support the "Save Trees" campaign with the vision to "save the Earth."
The decision was made considering that Pune houses numerous trees, some of which are even centuries old. These trees are often affected by the ongoing development projects. While the PMC undertakes replantation of trees affected by construction activities, the increasing damage to existing trees due to various reasons has become a growing concern. The trees in most areas are found in a bad condition, with illegal posters and unauthorised advertisement banners nailed onto their trucks. This reduces the life of these trees. With the help of the 'Tree Ambulance', care will be taken of such trees.
PMC Additional Commissioner Om Prakash Divate informed that under this initiative, the civic body will conduct a comprehensive survey of trees across the city. All nails and other objects driven into the tree trunks will be removed, and structures obstructing their growth will be dismantled, he added. The 'Tree Ambulance' will be staffed with personnel trained in tree care and maintenance, Divate stated. "The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the PMC's Garden Department, ensuring that every tree in the city receives the necessary attention and care," he further said.
Additionally, the PMC will also be launching a dedicated helpline for tree conservation. By providing the number, the residents will be able to report concerns about trees in their vicinity, and the 'Tree Ambulance' team will promptly address these issues. The PMC also plans to deploy trained staff to oversee the care and maintenance of trees under this initiative.
Ashok Ghorpade, Chief Garden Superintendent, PMC, said, "The 'Tree Ambulance' will have all the basic facilities, including equipment to remove tree guards and nails, tools for burning and cutting of the infected branches, etc. The ambulance will also have a ladder which can go up about 30 metres high to cut branches if needed. It will also be laced with a gas welding machine, hammer and pumps for spraying pesticides. At present, under the initiative, only one ambulance will be bought for the entire city, which will work throughout the year for the maintenance of old trees. We also have a team of five people, including technicians, for the maintenance of the trees. There will be a person deployed for collecting the seeds from the households. This initiative will help to keep the old trees healthy amid the ongoing development projects across the city."
"'Tree Ambulance' is also tasked to provide services such as first aid treatment, seed banking, seed ball distribution, uprooted tree planting, plant distribution, aiding tree plantation, shifting trees, and surveying of trees and removal of dead trees,” added Ghorpade.
The key aspects of tree ambulance services are:
- Focus on tree health: These services aim to diagnose and treat issues affecting trees, such as diseases, injuries, or environmental damage.
- First-aid for trees: Tree ambulances provide immediate assistance to trees in distress, similar to first-aid for humans.
- Expert care: Services are provided by professionals like botanists, forestry experts, and tree surgeons.
- Public outreach: Tree ambulance initiatives often include educational programmes to raise awareness about tree care and conservation.
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