Planting a Tree is part of New curriculum in DU : From Environmental Education to Environmental Action

Newdelhi 8/8/21:The University of Delhi took a new and innovative step today which will move from environmental education to environmental action at the ground level. From the coming Academic session, it has now become compulsory for every student to plant at least one tree anywhere in the country during the course of their study. This will be applicable at the Under Graduate, Post Graduate, and M.Phil/Ph.D levels. The programme will be scientifically monitored and evaluated by the respective colleges, centers, and departments. Details of the methods and process for evaluation have been simplified and made easier for the students so that they actually contribute to society and towards better environmental protection. The world is facing one of the greatest humanitarian crises today not only due to the COVID-19 pandemic but also rapidly going through several environmental, social, and economic challenges. For the first time, we all realized the value of oxygen and the pandemic has taught us many things. Therefore, we need to fight the challenges together and get ready ourselves to combat future problems. Planting millions of suitable trees and creating a natural ecosystem is one of the best ways and this can be achieved faster through massive students participation, said Professor P .C.Joshi, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi while addressing the media in the press conference.

Joshi said, every year Delhi University admits lakhs of students from different parts of the country and they will be our climate warriors.   It is well known that plants absorb carbon dioxide, provide oxygen, absorb many harmful pollutants including cancer-causing chemicals,  prevent soil erosion, landslides etc. said Botanist  Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo, Director of the Centre for Himalayan Studies and the brain behind the proposal. Sahoo said, today we are facing a major Biosphere Crisis and there are only 28 trees per person available in India while the global average is   422 trees per person, Canada has 8,953 and China has 130 trees per person. Planting and subsequent maintenance of trees will not only create a big supply chain in creating jobs at a different level but also will yield several valuable products which will provide suitable income at a different level said, Professor Joshi. Moreover, we have a responsibility towards full fulling UN SDG Goals, he said. Students Teachers and Employees of the university are very excited about this new initiative.Prof.Balaram Pani, Dean of Colleges, Prof.Suman Kundu, Director South Campus, Prof D.S.Rawat Dean Examination, Dr Vikash Gupta, Registrar, and several other officials were present.