Lions, students plant 300 saplings at Pilikula

Mangalore, August 26: As many as 3000 plants belonging to 32 different species were planted at Pilikula Nisargadhama near here on Thursday.

The afforestation programme was organised by Lions International members and students from Sharada College, Mangalore.

Members of Lions International along with the students planted saplings in front of Pilikula Science Centre and around 1500 saplings within the premises of the Shivaram Karanth Biological Park. Lions International has planned to plant over 40 lakh plants in South India as part of its Lions Green Revolution Drive.

J R Lobo, Executive Director of Pilikula Nisarga Dhama compared the planted saplings to a new born child. “The saplings require care and attention like a child. Most important aspect of plantation drive is to preserve the saplings”, he said.

He observed the necessity of planting saplings belonging to a particular region. He noted that planting plants such as Acacia and Mangium is not beneficial to the soil and might even pose an adverse effect. Emphasis should be on preserving the native species of Western Ghats in the region, he said.

Though the people have awareness about conservation of nature, they are not actively involved in it, he lamented.

G Kishore Rao, District Governor, Lions Club International 324-D5 said that Lions International is planning to plant 5000 saplings in Pilikula and 3000 will be planted this year.

M B Sadashiv, Deputy Governor, Lions Club International 324-D5, M B Puranik, President, Tulunadu Education Trust and Sharada College's NSS unit members participated.