RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: Mega Tree plantation campaign was held at main campus of Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam.

Prof Dr Mujeebuddin Memon, Vice Chancellor, SAU Tandojam inaugurated the campaign and also led the walk from Administration Block to Faculty of Agricultural Social Sciences.

This mega tree plantation will be held on August 15-21 at SAU Campus and with community engagement at various districts especially Tando Allahyar Umerkot and Sanghar.

During the event Prof Dr Mujeebuddin Memon, Vice Chancellor, SAU Tandojam highlighted the role of indigenous tree especially Moringa, Date Palm, Bottle Palm, Gum Acasia (Babar), Neem, Gold Mohar, Pudding Pipe Tree, Ficus Peeple and Bombax (Sumbal) benefits for health and betterment and protection of climate change and food security.

He urged the agriculturists, scientists and experts to explore various benefits of indigenous trees, which would be helpful for sustainable livelihood for small-scale producers and to promote better environment through tree plantation.

He said to combat drought challenges, degraded lands have to be covered with indigenous tree plantation to protect the environment and climate change issues of the country.

On the occasion, Forest Experts Lala Fazal Ahmed Belai said trees were the vital organs of the earth as they restored and protected the environment.

He said forest were precious natural resources and were destroyed due to weak planning, adding water scarcity, land degradation, climate change and drought were main issues and they might be restored and recovered through tree plantation. Only the trees could boost the better environment for better livelihood, he added.

Prof Dr Abu Sajid Samo, Director Beautification Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam highlighted the importance of ornamental trees and said SAU had planned to plant 5,000 indigenous trees during one week campaign at the campus. He added ornamental trees would be given especial focus through landscaping wherever trees would be planted to protect the environment.

Prof Dr Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Director UA & FA, said on the occasion that forest were the precious natural resources and integral part for livelihoods as 1.6 billion people of the world depended on forests as it also contributed a pivotal role in regulating the climate and sustaining communities and supporting biodiversity globally as well as locally. He also appreciated the efforts of the Vice Chancellor for organising that mega campaign at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam.