Organization:Atal Vatika
Atal Vatika is an urban forest, created by coordinated tree plantation drives of the population of the city, in which it is being created. It's a global connect initiative with its aim being the creation of an Atal Vatika in every country of the world, in addition to its primary aim of creating one in every Indian city.
Atal Vatika is a part of the Atal Indian movement, dedicated to the 10th Prime Minister, India Atal Bihari Vajpayee.[1][2]
Objectives
The Atal Vatika project aims at creation of multiple urban forest in Indian cities and villages, by the participation of the local populace. Native Indian trees like the Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Neem, Indian Laburnum, Amla, Terminalia arjuna, Neolamarckia cadamba etc. would be planted, and the resultant grove would give rise to a dynamic eco-system including birds and animals. The Atal Vatikas would play an important role in ecology of the human habitats around which they would be created. Advance planning and community involvement are crucial for the survival of the Atal Vatika.[3]
History
Atal Vatika is a part of the Atal Indian project, conceived by Nitin Sahrawat. Sahrawat created an Atal Vatika, the first of this project, in Dehradun, the capital of the Indian state of Uttarakhand.[4]
Benefits
The benefits of creating an Atal Vatika in every population centre include reduction of the urban heat island effect, reduction of air pollution, reduction of energy costs through increased shade over buildings, improved wildlife habitat, and improvement of overall urban quality of life.[5]
Psychological, Social, Wildlife
The presence of trees reduces stress, and trees have long been seen to benefit the health of urban dwellers.[6] Ayurveda describes the improvements in medical, academic and personal wellbeing when one has access to nature. Atal Vatika would provide nesting sites and food for birds and other animals. The citizens would get a place where they would be able to watch, photograph, and paint urban wildlife. Atal Vatika and its resultant wildlife would help people maintain their connection with nature, even when they are living in cities.
Reduction in Air Pollution
As cities struggle to comply with air quality standards, trees can help to clean the air. Ground-level smog as seen in North India, is created by chemical reactions between NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. With an extensive and healthy urban forest air quality can be drastically improved.
Local climate Influence
One of the most important benefits would be their ability to moderate local climate by lowering the temperature of the neighborhoods, and cooling the urban heat island effect. This would help homes and businesses conserve energy, thus reducing the number of unhealthful ozone days that plague major cities in peak summer months because of use of air-conditioning which results in release of CFC and greenhouse gases.
Whenever there is a large number of trees, it create a temperature gradient between the area when they are located and their neighborhoods. This creates a difference in atmospheric pressure between the two areas, and that creates wind which helps to lower temperature in the city.[7]
They would help rejuvenate the environment by filtering air, water and sunlight; They would also act as a channel for storm-water, and provide shelter to animals and recreational area for people.
Bulwark against dust storms
Atal Vatikas would act as a wind breaker to help protect the population centers from the direct impact of the ever increasing dust storms of the Northern India plains.
References
- ↑ "Letting go of the glamour of Mumbai, he created a heaven of trees". Amar Ujala. 2018-10-05. https://epaper.amarujala.com/dl/20181005/12.html?format=img&ed_code=dl.
- ↑ "This Man Left Mumbai for a Drive & Ended up Making a Mini-Forest in Dehradun". The Better India. 2018-10-01. https://www.thebetterindia.com/160591/mumbai-nitin-sahrawat-dehradun-mini-forest.
- ↑ "TV actor to plant trees in Dehradun". Amar Ujala. 2018-08-11. http://epaper.amarujala.com/dc/20180811/08.html?format=img&ed_code=dc.
- ↑ "TV actor’s campaign to bring colour to Doon localities". Times of India. 2018-08-09. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/tv-actors-campaign-to-bring-colour-to-doon-localities/articleshow/65328399.cms.
- ↑ W.G. Wilson (2011). Constructed Climates: A primer on urban environments.. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-90146-7.
- ↑ Maller, Cecily; Townsend, Mardie; St Leger, Lawrence (March 2008). Healthy parks, healthy people: The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context. Deakin University and Parks Victoria. http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources/mhphp/pv1.pdf.
- ↑ "Climate Change Management". American Planning Association. https://www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/climatechange.htm.
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