WHAT IS THE GREENING INDIA WITH NEEM CAMPAIGN ALL ABOUT ?

Greening India with Neem is about giving people a choice to act. It is a growing movement in more ways than one ! All around us there is talk that our planet is in crisis…… that we are destroying and polluting our way to a global catastrophe. We are repeatedly reminded that we have lost respect for the earth in our greed for speed, comfort and commercial gain… ‘Greening India with Neem’ is a programme initiated by the Neem Foundation to channelize the growing concern of Indians about the environment into positive action. Keeping in view that deforestation, increasing soil salinity, accelerating soil erosion, over – grazing, automobile pollution and noxious emissions from industry are problems which affect a large majority of Indians, this programme aims to mobilize large scale public and government participation. Each one of us is aware and worried about the ozone hole, the atmospheric warming, deforestation and the dire consequences of not taking action to address these problems… yet we all watch helplessly as cars, power stations and factories give out huge amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere and the earth becomes warmer. The concentration of CO2 in the air has triggered climate change. There is a real danger that global warming will lead to increases in the sea level. Besides warming is also beginning to affect rainfall patterns and food production. The most effective action that an individual or a Greening Organization can take is to plant more neem trees. As this would lead to a healing chain reaction superior to any other ! Trees absorb carbon dioxide and help maintain the delicate balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Neem trees act as very efficient, natural air filters trapping dust particles, absorbing gaseous pollutants. The planting of Neem trees helps reduce green house gases through photosynthesis absorbing large quantities of CO2 and producing oxygen. Besides neem has remarkable ability to withstand air and water pollution, as well as heat. Neem also restores and maintains soil fertility.

HOW MANY NEEM TREES SHOULD ONE PLANT ?
While there is no limit to the number of neem trees that one can plant, the limitation is normally the availability of land and suitable sites. In case you are unable to find a suitable site to plant your own neem, you can still help by talking about this cause to as many people as possible. If each one of us can inspire a few others to plant neem trees, the job will be done and nature will take care of rest.

WHERE CAN WE PLANT THE TREES ?
Neem trees can be planted in:
Housing Societies – to repel mosquitoes and to enhance the availability of oxygen
Road sides – to provide cooling shade and to reduce CO2, SO2 levels
Parks – to provide a CO2 sink, to purify the air and provide refuge for birds
Highways – to absorb the pollutants and provide shade
Around farm lands – to act as wind breaks, to bind soil against erosion and to provide natural home grown pest control material
They can be planted practically any location that receives plenty of sunlight and does not get water logged during rains.

HOW WILL WE BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAMME AS A NATION ?
Greening India with Neem is a long term environmental programme aimed at providing one neem tree for every 10 Indians, so that Indians can use it freely for health and hygiene as well as for organic agriculture and all other known uses.

The Neem tree is globally being acknowledged as the most valuable tree in the world, in terms of commercial and industrial potential. The neem tree is the de-facto National Tree of India. It is the grand old tree of the Indian countryside and can make a cleaner, greener and more fertile India a reality !