Tamil Nadu Agricultural University students turn into ‘green warriors’

As part of the newly-launched ‘one student one tree’ campaign, aimed at increasing the tree cover in the campus, each student will plant a sapling and nurture it until they graduate from the institute.

“There are about 470 students in the first year and each of them will plant a sapling and nurture them for four years. Thereafter, the university will take care of its maintenance,” said S Mahimairaja, Dean (Agriculture), TNAU. 

The sapling planted by each student will have a signboard with his/her name and their college ID number. After graduation, the university will gift the student a photograph of him/her standing near the grown tree along with their degree certificate. 

Furthermore, a circular will soon be sent asking the TNAU’s 14 constituent colleges and 26 affiliated private colleges across the State to start the initiative in their respective campuses.

“There are over 3,000 students studying in all the constituent and affiliated colleges. Every year, the newly admitted students will continue with the plantation drive. Eight student groups have been formed to monitor the plantation work,” Mahimairaja added. 

University Vice-Chancellor K Ramasamy initiated the drive by planting a ‘mahizham’ sapling. Indigenous tree species like Spanish cherry tree (mahizham), tulip tree (Puvarasu), neem, mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), Pongam tree (pungai maram), Indian almond, fig tree, jamun tree and kadambam tree were planted around the campus. 

“The trees were chosen based on their nature of growth –bushy, wide spreading, large deciduous, evergreen and other factors after considering the availability of space,” said faculty members. 

The initiative is expected to improve the greenery and micro-climate of the campus and more importantly, help instil the importance of protecting nature in the minds of students.