Delhi’s citizens choke on the air. Breathing is more difficult under construction dust, truck fumes, and diminishing green cover. But what if people acting rather than merely policies define the solution?
The Divriti Foundation and NSS NSUT showed change is possible on April 13, 2024. In one day, twenty student volunteers pulled up their sleeves, grabbed shovels, and planted 400+ seedlings.
This is a template for how little actions may combat major environmental challenges, not only a feel-good narrative.
Why Planting Trees Is Not Just “Beautiful”—It Is Essential
1. Delhi’s Air Is Broken. Trees mend it.
The AQI for the city often reaches harmful levels—400+.
Ten thousand kg of CO₂ annually—equivalent of removing twenty vehicles from the road—are absorbed by 400 mature trees.
2. Diversity Is Essential in Concrete Jungles
Buildings replace houses for birds, bees, and butterflies.
The team planted Amla, Peepal, and Neem—species Delhi’s ecology calls for.
3. The Actual Prize? Students That Care Over Long Term
These twenty volunteers dug more than simply holes. They acquired knowledge:
How does the condition of soil influences development?
Why do native plants weather droughs better?
How should one take care of seedlings outside of Instagram photos?
How the Plantation Drive went: Just action without bureaucracy 📍 First, smart preparation
There is no random planting here. Soil evaluated, species resistant to drought chosen.
Local nurseries provided affordable, environmentally beneficial saplings.
😊 Second Step: The Actual Work
Dig two feet deep; add compost; plant; mulch; then water.
Teams turned around chores to prevent burnout without any “heropanti.”
Third step: evidence it happened. 📸
No manufactured grins: Photographs revealed soiled hands, perspiration, and pride.
“Which tree absorbs the most CO₂?” said the quiz question. ( Winner acquired seeds to sow at her house.)
Meet the Students Who Oversaw the Heavy Lifting from Divriti Foundation :
Riya Sharma is a CS student.
“I assumed activists should handle climate change. It’s for everyone with two hands and a will to study, now I know.
Arjun Mehta, the NSS Leader, said, “We have cleaned-up before. But around 400,000 trees? This creates a fresh benchmark.
By the Numbers: What 400+ Trees Actually Do to Affect Equivalent Benefit CO₂ Absorbed 10,000 kg/year = 20 cars off the road
Enough oxygen generated yearly for 800 people.
Effect of Cooling Like ten nonstop ACs
The Hard Reality: Trees Not Grow on Hashtag Challenges Nobody Talks About Water Scarcity Not every seedling will survive summer.
Planting comes first on day one. Days of care run two to 365.
💡 Acquired Knowledge
✔ Survival rate leaps when volunteers choose trees.
✔ Peepal > Foreign Species: Native plants call for less care.
What follows? Assign volunteers to monitor saplings as part of a scaling the movement adopt-a-tree program.
Workshops in Terrace Farming: Create little woods out of balconies.
One thousand plus trees by 2025: Work with three more universities.
Meet the Students Behind the Movement
Riya Sharma (Computer Science): “I thought climate action needed NGOs. Now I know it starts with one tree.” Arjun Mehta (NSS Leader): “400 trees aren’t just saplings—they’re a legacy.”
The Hard Truth:
Trees Don’t Grow on Hashtags Not all 400 trees will survive. But FAO data shows 70% survival rates with aftercare—like watering schedules and community adoption. Divriti plans training to keep these trees alive.
What’s Next? Scaling the Movement Adopt-a-Tree: Students will track saplings for a year.
Terrace Workshops: Teaching balconies-as-ecosystems.
Goal: 1,000+ trees by 2025, with more university partners.
Let’s Rethink Change: Start With a Spade, Not a Speech
Delhi’s green future needs hands in soil, not just hashtags. As Anne-Marie Bonneau said: “We need millions doing sustainability imperfectly.”
More Topics You Might Enjoy: How to Start a Terrace Garden With Zero Budget
Native vs. Exotic Plants: What Grows Best in Delhi?
Why Tree Mapping Should Be Part of Urban Planning