Keisham Kumar Singh
Retired Forester
Haobam Marak Chingtham Leikai
We remember the then Hon’ble Minister K.M. Mungshi regarding the planting of trees. Accordingly, I tell my children the reason and uses of planting trees and they have an inclination to plant trees on the birthday of every child in my family.
The children deduce that planting a tree is a part of nourishing forests. They know that a tree is bigger than a beast, has a longer lifespan than that of a beast, more dedicated than man. My children know that plants cannot move like beasts, but plants manufacture their own food, while animals cannot. From these angles, we love trees (plants).
The forest is the core origin of valued wildlife and human beings. But now man cannot remember and forget the originality and try to swallow the supporting forests, which provide useful materials in giving off oxygen and they hold soil together and retain water in it. Areas with no trees have almost no water either and cannot support much life in them and become deserts. So, it is of profound importance to man to keep large areas forested as trees are essential for life on earth.
Forest is, in fact, our wealthy possession, including the mineral kingdom. We men get resources since the times of the Carboniferous and Cretaceous periods, which started for man before man existed. We live happily and satisfactorily with resources like Watermill (Energy), Retained water, Oxygen, Soil, etc. We demand forest products like paper, perfume, film, synthetic, rubber, dyes, glue, paints, medicine, disinfectants, etc. Firewood, Boats, Ships, Playthings and Furniture are common views. There are many hidden things in the forests, explored and unexplored. We use forests as a defence too. The more we get from forests the more we supply plantation.
Though we get various employment from forested man, small danger of climate change affecting ecology and environment. The Government of India set up the Forest Department in 1864, realising the preservation of Forests. It was broken up into Central and Provisional Departments, classifying as Reserved, Protected and Unclassed Forests.
Sunken rain is 75% and the retained water flows through rivers all year through after controlling floods. This is a wonderful process of trees, including protection from high velocity of dry and cold wind.
My life and my family’s hobby is the planting of trees for the betterment of our environment. Along the way in front of my gate, once planted 9 (nine) 36-year-old Jarul trees, decorated with orchids stand for better environments. In the springtime, these deciduous trees made a canopy with a bunch of flowers on every shoot. Every shoot blooms at the time of monsoon and petals are scattered down wild with the monsoon shower, very charming. I take rest on the twilight hanging down on the leaves.
My little forest stands with a many trees and many a tree inside with trees of Agor, Manahi, Tera, U-Thambal, Heinoujom, Heinou, Chorphon, Neem, Uyung, Avocado, Kekru, Chingsu, Wang, Lee, Kona, Khok, Chouhi, Yongchak, Heiban, Heikreng, Theibong Litchi, etc. etc. and appending others are Kwa, Leihao, Chingthrao, Mangey, Apple, Bokul, Karpur, Nasik, Heibong, Gold Mohor, Coffee, Pungthol, Hei-Yai, Heikha, Champra, etc.
Now my fulfilment is to make a forest in my estate. We are not scaling the balance of deforestation and afforestation, but we must plant trees all the year-round, even in the courtyard. Thus, I am by no means weak in planting trees for a better environment.
MY CHILDREN KNOW THIS!
I am arranging poly bags seedings some 30/40 in numbers every year for the individuals who want and are interested.
