Our intimate connection to trees isn't just about clean air, but a lot more
The recent conversations set off by the Central government’s proposal to fell nearly 17,000 trees in the capital to make room for a housing project, have catapulted trees – usually peripheral to dominant public discussions – to the centre of national discourse. Interestingly, what has sparked debate is the unusual sight of protesting citizens hugging trees in the heart of the National Capital Region, a mesh of concrete buildings and elaborate infrastructure. Confronted with the spontaneous protests, the government has put the project on hold for the time being. The ongoing conversations about the need to preserve trees have mostly centred around the environment and pollution. Commentators have expressed consternation over how such large-scale tree felling would aggravate pollution and further damage an already hurting environment. At a different level, the recent civil society outrage, to my mind, has opened a window and given us an opportunity to view trees and nature thr...