Ficus religiosa for ecological, ecomonical, social, and financial sustainability concept.
Being advantageous in following ways, peepal plantation and promotion became my project as an effort the stop global warming and climate change and to provide the employment opportunities to the local people.
i.
Ecological sustainability
Peepal captures 2252 kg CO2 /ha/year and produce 1712 kg O2/ha/year (soni et al 1990).The CO2 capturing capacity of peepal could be fruitful on climate change management. A band of 500m of peepal around factories areas reduces SO2 concentration by 70% and N2O concentration by 67%. In addition, it also reduces noise pollution (soni et al 1990). At the same time, we can establish the traditional approach to manage water source by maintaining the pond culture near by the tree. The tree can also be a good habitat for different birds and insects. Planting this tree on riverbank can control the soil erosion.
ii. Social and Spiritual Sustainability
Since we consider the Peepal as an incarnation of
Viśņu or Buddha, we (Nepalese) have spiritual attachment with this tree. Tree
worship on Saturday, constructing stone plate form around the tree, tree
marriage of peepal with bar (Ficus bengalensis) is special Nepali culture
demonstrating our love with trees. Saturday worship to please the Saturn is our
common culture, but availability of tree near to home is difficult these days.
To manage these difficulties, people are planting peepal on their home. However,
plantation of peepal in residential area is dangerous for construction works.
Planting this tree on bank of Holy River may help us to maintain tree worship culture. The number 108 carry the
sacred importance. If we can concentrate the 108 tree on bank of Holy River, will be more sacred.If we can plant Ocimum
basilicum along with this tree may help to turn plantation site as pilgrim
site.
iii. Financial Sustainability
Equity investment on conservation project is
very important. Planting the Peepal tree on sacred place could generate people
participation. By planting this tree, we can generate awareness on climate
change and global warming with minimum effort. We can link the social value of
peepal to aware the local people on cultural language. Concentrating the effort
on one locality can innovate a new tourism product. We are on ready position to
lunch Nepal tourism year 2011. The place could be effective product to demonstrate
the slogan “Naturally Nepal, once is not enough". The site could be equally
productive on Spiritual tourism, Academic Tourism and Eco tourism.
iv) Economical Sustainability
By applying the simple technology to remove the green
layer, the leaves with an attractive tail like tips, can be utilized on craft
production. By disseminating the technology among young and disadvantage group,
we can disperse the tourism opportunity among targeted people. Beside
leaf-craft, we can develop the conservation based micro business by applying
the concept of social marketing. The site could provide market incentive to
conserve product, if we can explore the message on tourism market. This approach
may prove as effective on in-situ conservation of agro-bio-diversity.
In : Info