TREES FACE A SLOW DEATH

                                          TREES FACE A SLOW DEATH

 Thousands of  trees across Ernakulam district face a 'slow death. The vested interesters used different methods. They  are using mercury to pouring diesel or kerosene on the surface roots, several illegal techniques are used to kill 'the trees. Five milligrams of mercury could easily fasten the drying up of a tree having a circumference of 20 inch.The poison triggers a chemical reaction that finally results in the death of the tree' said S Sitaraman, secretary of the association for Environment Protection and an active Campaigner against tree felling in Ernakulam.
   Prof. Sitaraman said that pouring benzine,diesel and kerosene would also boost the drying up of trees. " peeling off the skin of the stem is another technique used by those who want to fell trees. removing the main root is another trick" he said.
  Greens pointed out that those involved in tree-felling had a clear way of operation. They said that people chopped off the branches on the lower portion in the make of pruning' when the upper portion becomes heavy, the trees comes down, especially during a strong wind.
   The tree fellers use a special liquid to kill the natural growth of a tree. It is very difficult to trace such activities as we lack a stringent monitoring system against such illegal activities. they said.
    A  big trees need at least 50 year to 75 years to attain full growth, the approximate ecological value of a fully -grown tree is about Rs 15 Lakh' Trees help check pollution. there are several ways to save a tree. the branches found to be weak can be trimmed. The trunk can be protected from any outside attack by providing a strong cover around it" he said.

                  Prof. John Kurakar