Tree Ambulance

• 30 Dec 2023

Source: HT

Why In News?

Recently, the Horticulture Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) plans to expand its tree ambulance fleet in Delhi, aiming to triple the current number to 12 by 2024.

• Each of the 12 administrative zones will be assigned one tree ambulance, enhancing the city's capacity for timely and efficient tree care.

What is the Tree Ambulance?

• About:
  • Tree Ambulance is an initiative that has been initiated to support “save trees” with the “vision to save the Earth”.
  • The first phase of Tree Ambulance was flagged off and inaugurated in Chennai on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity, 2019 ( celebrated on 22^nd May) by the Vice President of India.
  • Tree Ambulances are run by botanists, forestry experts, gardeners, volunteers and tree surgeons and provide free services to people who call its helpline requesting help rescuing ailing trees and plants.
• Aim:
  • The initiative was proposed by the Chennai-based environmentalist K Abdul Ghani, well known as the “Green Man of India”.
  • The initiative was launched for the purpose of providing a platform to battle climate change by replanting the trees that were uprooted due to Cyclone Vardah and Cyclone Gaja.
  • Tree Ambulance is also tasked to provide services such as “first aid treatment, seed banking, seed ball distribution, uprooted tree planting, plant distribution, aiding tree plantation, shifting trees, and surveying of trees and removal of dead trees”.
• Significance:
  • Tree Ambulance services are starting up across India, bringing sick plants back to life.
  • The work is helping cool down India’s cities by reducing “urban heat islands”.
  • These tree ambulances are also playing a role in protecting biodiversity.