The Treenitiative

The southern side of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria’s desert is turning green! What started as a vision of the civil engineer Mr. Madjid Abdellaziz, has over the past years turned into a wide green oasis, where now fruit trees, vegetables and wheat grow in the Sahara Desert. Even truffles, an exclusive gourmet delicacy in affluent countries, sprouted in large number from the otherwise infertile desert sands.

Not only has a patch of desert been converted into a garden, but also the persistent water shortage in Algeria has been resolved by Mr. Abdellaziz’s project and dedicaton. In 2003 the drought in Algeria had taken dramatic proportions and threatened to dry up the last reservoirs in the country, and the government considered importing drinking water by large ships to provide for the basic needs of the population. But now, central Algeria is getting rainfall again.

The astounding success of Mr. Abdellaziz’s methods to bring rain back to the region and to grow plants where nobody ever suspected them to grow is based on simple bioenergetic principles, which have been discovered by some of the most remarkable researchers of recent history: Willhelm Reich, Viktor Schauberger, Nikola Tesla, Walter Russel and George Lackowsky.

What Mr. Abdellazis calls accupuncture of the sky is the ‘treatment’ of an energetic imbalance in the atmosphere with a simple installation that was devised and first applied by Wilhelm Reich, during his famous weather experiments half a century back. Later, James DeMeo, an independent scientist and former university professor from Oregon, among others, has in over 25 years of field research during various highly successful operations in the USA, Israel, Namibia and Eritrea, verified the method, known as “Cloudbusting”.

“The work in Israel did show a strong development of rains, but Israel’s drought was only 3 years duration. In Eritrea, we were looking at 3 decades of dryness and below-normal rains in an already dry region, where the Sahara Desert had been slowly spreading southward over that same time period. Even so, good saturating rains came quickly after our first operations, and most every other operation thereafter. And the rains in Eritrea were widespread and soaking, lasting all day into the evening, of a kind that older residents confirmed they had not seen since childhood.”

Excerpt from J. DeMeo’s research-summary

Why then, you might ask, has the method not been applied yet everywhere – why are there still areas that don’t get rain for years? And, why are there still deserts?….good question! ( …maybe it’s due to a lack of Madjids? )

readings:
desert-greening.com – Mr. Madjids Abdellaziz well documented website about project Djanan in Algeria
Are the deserts getting greener? an article published by BBC on July 16, 2009

It is somewhat off topic, but I wanted to share with you a picture of the eclipse as I observed it from Pune India at around 1.30pm. The picture also features some leaves of a tree and some clouds (thanks to which I could take the picture without the need of a filter). While the eclipse was to be seen as a full eclipse in southern India, it showed here up to approximately 40 % (rough guess).

BTW: a solar eclipse of this duration is said to occur only once every 1000 years or so.

solar eclipse January 15, 2010 - as seen from northern India

Green Ragas Concert Flyer

Chinmaya Dunster is a very productive and proactive musician and filmmaker, who inspires environmental awareness with his lovely compositions and lively pictures. He will perform again as part of his row of ‘Concerts for India’s Environment’ with Sandeep Srivastav and the Celtic Ragas Band at British Council, New Delhi on 2nd Feb at 7pm. If you happen to be in Delhi on this date, you are invited to enjoy the concert.

The Celtic Ragas Band has gained some fame playing at Paul McCartney’s wedding in Ireland in 2002 (“I love the unique blend of Irish and Indian style music of Celtic Ragas. It has become one of my favourites.” Paul McCartney). His more recent concerts aim to raise awareness about the many difficulties facing the natural and human environment in India because of unrestrained ‘development’.

Chinmaya Dunster has turned into a filmmaker with the film ‘Concert for India’s Environment’, which he completed in 2007. “I spent many satisfying days deep in the Indian wilderness collecting wildlife footage for this, and travelled to some remote places for interviews and shots of the people who live around and depend on the wilderness”, says Chinmaya Dunster about his work.

Chinmaya Dunster has a collaboration with Dr Erach Bharucha (his guide and mentor to India’s environmental issues and presenter of the ‘Concert’ film), helping edit his books and spread the conservation message through film. He has produced many short Videos of wildlife scenes and people in their natural environment, all of them featuring his beautiful songs and conveying his message. To learn more about Chinmaya Dunster’s work and to enjoy his beautiful music Videos, please visit his website at: www.chinmaya-dunster.com

Project report from Manasvi

The other day we travelled by Jeep to Idar Mountain to collect black soil for our new nursery in Ahmedabad. Idar Mountain is situated about 110 km from Ahmadabad.

I took with me a spade and a wide shallow iron bucket to dig soil. We brought ten big bags black soil back in our Jeep from the Mountain’s forest area. In Ahmedabad we made a heap of all the soil and mixed it with some other soil and sieved it into a fine mixture, to which we then added some cow manure.

The quantity of soil received was enough to fill 2300 small black plastic bags, into which we then introduced seeds and seedballs. This bags are getting watered daily for 3 to 4 days to germinate the seeds.

We are experimenting with this lot to see, what place is most suitable for the trees to grow fast, so we placed half of the freshly planted bags into the sun, while the other half got placed in the shade.

We have also treated another batch with a solution of natural (organic) ingredients, that was specially prepared by Anadiji.

We are researching this different methods to find out how our trees will grow best and we expect the results after some days.

After completing the job in Ahmedabad I travelled to Madhavpur (Ghed) together with six friends. This friends are volunteers and support our project free of cost. We rented a room in Madhavpur to keep the six boxes of seed balls which we had brought with us. Then we went to meet with the management of the Madhavpur Ashram to coordinate our work.

As landscaping is still going on, we decided to start the work in this are after three months and we will need more seed balls for this Project. So now I am again busy making more seed balls with my family at Ahmadabad.

We from the Treenitiative wish our visitors and subscribers a HAPPY New Year 2010 and thank you for being with us since our launch about half a year ago. Thank you for helping us grow, for helping the trees grow and for spreading the word of a greener, cleaner, better and brighter FUTURE.

The coming year will also mark the start of a new decade – hopefully one that opens up new vistas and a renewed sense of interdependence and cooperation. We all have gone through moving times recently with respect to the basically useful and needed debate about our environment and the changing climate, but the “doom & gloom” spread along this line might have left many discouraged or disengaged.

We are convinced that, while there always have and always will exist minor or major challenges for humanity to deal with, the solutions to many of the current problems might actually be quite simple – too simple maybe to be recognized by scientifical complexity and economical interest. Nevertheless change, innovation and surprising solutions have often been brought about amidst times of hardship, crises, and despair – or just when their time has come. Often such developments were initiated by a common man or woman. Remember Edison – he was not a scientist or studied engineer – in fact he hardly had any school education – but he was highly inspired and through his passion, persistence, trial and error (he is said to have erred over a thousand times until he found the proper construction for his light bulb) he brought about tremendous transformation and improvement to the world.

We (sic. we the common men and women) do not need consent or scientific, religious or political authorization to be extra-ordinary and do what makes sense and what is sensible. We can reverse much of the man-made climate change by planting and protecting trees thus covering the barren land with a layer of foliage that shelters animals, shades the ground, converts carbon to biomass and oxygen, stores water and cools the planet – and that also provides food, medicines, livelihoods for the poor and last but not least – that looks very pretty to the observer from nearby or even from outer space.

You are invited to be extra-ordinary, to take on the challenge and become part of the solution. Help restoring balance and to make the coming year and decade a turning point in the history of humanity. It is the realization of love, dedication and cooperation that will provide the inspiration and courage needed to embark on a new path leading to fresh solutions and a worthwhile coexistence on our planet – our Mother Earth.

We wish you much strenght, courage, love, compassion and success for the task at hand!

The Team at the Treenitiative

We had recently published a post on the Neem Tree (The Neem Tree – The Village Pharmacy) and I would like to follow up with this informative video below. The Neem tree has been called “A Tree For Solving Global Problems” by the BOSTID Innovation Program (BOSTID = Board on Science and Technology for International Development (National Academy of Sciences)).

The world’s probably largest Neem (Azadirachta indica) plantation can be found on 10 sq km in the Plains of Arafat, Saudi Arabia, where 50,000 trees have been planted. The project, designed to provide shade to the ca. 2 million Muslim pilgrims who camp there annually for “Haj” rites, also has an economic potential. Pest-control materials, soap, toothpaste, and pharmaceutical products are among items that could be produced for home consumption and export. The Neem Tree was introduced into the country more than 40 years ago and has acclimated itself remarkably well to the local hot and arid conditions.

Perhaps the most important trait of Neem is its ability to persist and grow in drought-prone soils. Many areas of Africa have suffered from overgrazing and subsequent desertification. The Sahara Desert has advanced relentlessly, aided by the ever- increasing population demands along its borders, especially in the Sahel, an area south of the desert which covers six countries from Senegal to Chad. Re-forestation efforts have been greatly aided by the introduction of Neem trees to these areas. Other countries successfully growing Neem include Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, China, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. A few trees currently exist in southern Florida, Hawaii, Texas and Puerto Rico.

In May 2000, the European Patent Office officially revoked patent number 436257 — a Neem tree patent granted to the US multinational W R Grace, who had been granted the patent to develop a fungicide from Neem seeds but had then been massively opposed by many people, in India and beyond, who regarded the patent as an attempt to commoditise what had always been common property. I would say, the fact that a multinational company attempts to patent Neem is prove enough that this is a very remarkable tree!

Neem is a fascinating tree. On the one hand, it seems to be one of the most promising of all plants and may eventually benefit every person on the planet. Probably no other yields as many strange and varied products or has as many exploitable by-products. Indeed, as foreseen by some scientists, this plant may usher in a new era in pest control, provide millions with inexpensive medicines, cut down the rate of human population growth, and perhaps even reduce erosion, deforestation, and the excessive temperature of an overheated globe.

Excerpt from the preface of the book “Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems” (National Research Council. 1992. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.).

Further comprehensive Literature on Neem (click on the links to open in a new window):

read the book “Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems” for free online on The National Academies Press (123 pages)

Read online or download: “Neem-Today and in the New Millennium” (291 pages)

Along Gujarat’s south-western coastline one can find large limestone pits where ashlars of tuff are being cut out from the terrain. These blocks are used as inexpensive and durable building material and have replaced the low quality clay bricks to a large extent. The pits leave deep scars in the landscape which as a consequence is rendered useless – nothing grows here, apart from some thorny bushes and the water that leaks in is highly saline.

The limestone pit near the coastal village Madhupur in Gujarat

In the village Madhupur such a pit of several acres has been acquired by a local ashram as an extension of their existing facilities and is now undergoing landscaping. Once earth moving work has been concluded, a variety of indigenous trees and herbs will be planted by saplings and seedball method to create a beautiful oasis as an abode for relaxation and meditation.

Landscaping of Gokul Dham in Madhupur in progress

Manasvi came back from a visit to Madhupur, where he received permission for us to undertake the reforestation of this place called “Gokul Dham”. For our project this will provide a valuable opportunity to gain experience with reforesting the coastal area with its sandy soil and saline groundwater. The place is roughly six kilometer from the ocean shore and requires specific trees and shrubs that can grow in this conditions. In this regard we will be advised by the forestry department and by Mr. Soni, who upon analysis of the soil will provide us with a list of suitable plants.

On his way, Manasvi visited another ashram between Khambhaliya and Jamnagar, which is situated further inside the country and which also agreed willingly to undertake a reforestation project in cooperation with our organisation on several acres of degraded wasteland. In this area, trees are especially valuable, as heavy industry and two large refineries are producing quite a lot of emissions.

In Gujarat, people show much enthusiasm when they learn about our activities and they appreciate the opportunity to become part of a movement that cares for the environement and many people become proactive and devoted to the idea of regreening the place. A group of people in Ahmedabad attended a gathering where Manasvi explained the importance of reforestation and caring for the environment. Spontaneously some of the attendees decided to introduce a “car-free day” once a month and the owner of a print shop offered to print an intitial lot of “Secrets of the Earth” in Gujarati free of charge.

We are very grateful for this appreciation and Manasvi feels energized and motivated to endure the hardships of his long travels for the cause when he encounters the open and warm reception by the people of Gujarat.

SM Raju is a civil servant in the Indian state of Bihar who has taken a novel approach to improve the poors life circumstances and at the same time enhance the environment for generations to come. What he calls “social forestry programme” takes advantage of the central government’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which is designed to provide the members of families that live below the poverty line with employment for an income of 100 Rupees per day for 100 days in a year. In Bihar 44% of the population fall into this category and the programme is said to have significantly improved the condition of thousands of families and to have even stopped the migration of poor labourers from the area in search of employment elsewhere during monsoon time.

Image courtesy Prashant Ravi / BBC

According to a report by BBC from September 19th, 2009 with the title ” Meeting India’s tree planting guru”, SM Raju organised 300′000 villagers from 7′500 Villages from Bihar state in a mass tree planting ceremony held on August 30th, 2009. As per the BBC report the target was the plantation of one billion trees within a single day from 6 am to 6 pm. However, I think this amount stated is incorrect.

Existing World record from June 2009 in Assam claims 447,874 trees planted by 300 army personnel within 24 hours. That makes roughly 1.16 trees on average planted per minute by each (physically fit) army man on well prepared ground.

Pakistan snatched the title with 541,176 trees planted by 300 volunteers in July, however they were mangrove trees which could easily be plugged into the very soft marshland.

Calculate the Bihar claim: 1 billion trees divided into 300000 people into 12 hours into 60 minutes equals 4.63 trees per participant planted every minute without a single break! – difficult to believe. Maybe the target was ONE CRORE trees and it can be assumed that BBC made a mistake with translating the term “crore” (1 crore = 10 million) with “billion” as “crore” is a rather unknown term outside India (?).

Anyway – every tree counts! (and if they create jobs for the poor – even better!)

Manasvi reports:

Manasvi testing the new transport vehicle

As we need transportation for soil, seeds, seed balls and saplings in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Earth Reforest System bought a used Jeep. The transfer papers for the Jeep are currently being processed by the authorities and will be ready within a month. After this we will be able to drive the vehicle on Maharashtra‘s roads. We purchased an additional battery for the case of break down. I was already practicing driving with a friend in Pune‘s city traffic and also on the highway.

We have bought a heap of soil from a farm for our tree nursery. The soil will be filled in small plastic bags together with a seed to grow the plants. Soil is also needed for making seed balls. Apurva Soni is helping us with this in the afternoons.

Apurva making seed balls

The translation of the book „Secrets of the Earth“ is now ready in Gujarati language and translations into Hindi and Haryani language are under way.

Translation in progress

Secret of the Earth - Cover

A Video CD with this story as an animation is also being prepared and will be ready in about two weeks, so small kids can enjoy watching an it can be used for study purpose. It will go along well with our „One Student – One Tree“ campaign.