Proutist Universal Malta raise awareness towards sustainability by Tree project.
Lets Talk About Trees by Kalina Kozarska
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar who envisioned Proutist was a significant proponent of afforestation. If we are talking about trees and our dependence on them for survival, we must acknowledge our reliance on water. Did you know that the average human being cannot survive more than 3 days without water? That being said, it is abundantly clear that water is an essential component to our livelihood. Sadly, many of our fresh water sources are polluted with deadly chemical wastes, plastics, sludge, fertilizers and pesticides. Therefore, P.R. Sarkar proposes a reliance on rain water for survival.
Trees play a crucial role in water conservation. Their deep roots store water and when planted near natural water sources, they prevent water loss and keep the soil moist and lush. Furthermore their roots act as filters, removing any pollutants. When trees are planted close to natural water sources, their dense foliage also prevents evaporation of precious water. Lastly trees can attract clouds and thus facilitate a necessary natural cycle of rainfall. If our existing water bodies become polluted past the point of remediability, we might focus our attention on rainwater.
In addition, here in Malta many of us have observed the poor air quality which comes as a result of consistent construction. Dust and other harmful particles easily travel through the air and penetrate our lungs. Unfortunately for us, we have few trees to protect us from these harmful particles. Trees are well known for absorbing damaging pollutants and alternatively releasing clean oxygen. Because Malta’s climbing real estate prices have enticed owners to renovate and expand, trees have had to bear the brunt. Malta is rather small and for many individuals every square meters means an opportunity to earn more money. Furthermore, rumors that a picturesque, tree-lined road leading to Mdina might be destroyed and expanded has caused mass outrage among certain citizens. Precious trees are being cut down in order to make more room for building projects. This is a real tragedy and a serious problem that must be swiftly dealt with.
Yes, our excuse might be that Malta is particularly small and therefore cannot host lush parks and tall trees, but I beg to differ. This is a choice between financial wellness and physical wellness. We fail to realize the vital role of trees on our health and our environment. We must plant wherever and whenever it is possible. Trees are the priority. — in Valletta, Malta.