Trees for Living - India

Interpersonal communication invites the wisdom of the ageing population to help in a profitable tree-planting project. The 400 elderly participants were asked to draw on their knowledge to aid in the selection of trees to be planted. Family members helped support the project with the more difficult manual labour which brought community members together in a unified environmental cause.

Ageing, Population, Environment, Economic Development

The experience & wisdom of the elderly was integral to the project, which pointed to the value of the elderly population to their communities. They were able to advise on the trees' useful qualities, such as medicinal properties, nutrition & income. The elders suggested that the Juvvi, Ragi & Peepul trees are useful as producing animal fodder & the Peepul tree has remedial properties. Neem, Mango & Sapota are all fruit bearers which provide both nutrition & income. The Pungum tree is a very valuable oil producer; its fruit is used for medicine & it also improves the soil by retaining nitrogen. The Tamanud bears useful fruit for cooking & its branches are used for good charcoal production. The project initially came from the realization that deforestation was a cause of drought in the region. The Rotary Service Complex Trust was instrumental for getting the project off the ground & involving the older segment of the population. A capital grant was used to pay the tree planters until the trees could produce an income. The wide range of uses for the trees "suggests that the local economy & environment, as also the elders, will benefit greatly in due course".