SAI100 'Tree Planting' In The Northern Region, Sri Lanka – Zone 4

Dear Envirocare Coordinators, Go Green Champions, and Eco Explorers,

This month, we aim to inspire lasting change by encouraging students to actively contribute to the preservation of their environment, by environmental guardianship. Through tree planting, students not only enhance their surroundings with shade and greenery but they also develop lifelong habits of environmental care, fostering a sense of responsibility and respect for Nature.

The Sri Sathya Sai International Organization of Sri Lanka highlights the profound engagement of two schools from the Northern Region of Sri Lanka in the SAI100 Tree planting initiative. 

On 18 June 2024, Sathya Sai devotees, alongside students from a primary school in Pannagam, Jaffna, planted 50 fruit-bearing trees—including guava, pomegranate, arecanut, mango, ambarella (June plum), custard apple, jackfruit and jambu (rose apple)—within the school premises and in the yards of students’ homes across Pannagam.

The commitment of the Sathya Sai devotees to the environment did not stop there – the older students extended the project even further. On 4 November 2024, they collaborated with students from Yarlton College, Karainagar, to plant 30 more trees—such as mahogany, Terminalia arjuna (Arjun tree; locally known as Marutha maram or Kumbuk) and pongame oiltree—enriching the school’s playground with greenery.

Located in Sri Lanka’s dry zone, this school lacks tree cover around its campus and adjoining classroom buildings. Subsequently, students became more aware of the vital role trees play in providing shade and cooling the environment. Through this collaboration, their understanding grew of how trees contribute to biodiversity, enhance air quality, and support in maintaining ecological balance.

Children under the age of 10 at the Pannagam Primary School were introduced to the importance of healthy eating and the benefits of consuming fresh, organic fruits. They also learned the necessity of growing their own food. They eagerly learned the techniques of tree planting and actively participated in the process.

Moreover, the students learned about the significance of seeds and seedlings for the flourishing of Nature. They were taught how to collect seeds from their surroundings and grow their own trees in the future. Once the saplings mature, the Sathya Sai Centre will collect and plant them in other areas, extending the impact of this green initiative.

Ultimately, this initiative empowers students to become proactive caretakers of the environment, ensuring a greener and healthier future for their communities.

Amid growing concerns over water pollution, Nature offers a powerful solution through the Arjun tree, commonly known as a water-purifying natural plant in Sri Lanka.

On 2 November 2024, Sathya Sai devotees planted 50 Arjun trees near the pondside in the Katkovalam area of the Northern Region of Sri Lanka. This tree is frequently found along riverbanks, lakes, and ponds across various parts of Sri Lanka.

A study² by Buhar (2016) investigated the water purification capabilities of Arjun tree in reservoirs located in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, which supply drinking water to local villagers. Researchers collected water samples from these reservoirs and tested them for cadmium concentration in a laboratory. The findings revealed that increased coverage of Arjun trees improves water quality by reducing cadmium levels. This suggests that the plant may possess natural water purification properties, potentially providing safe drinking water to the nation.

Arjun tree is a traditional medicinal plant that has been used since ancient times to treat various diseases. Almost all parts of the plant serve medicinal purposes. Indigenous people have been using different parts of this plant to address a range of health conditions³, such as eye and ear infections, ulcers, heart-related conditions and many others.

“Nature is your school, your laboratory, the gateway to liberation and the panorama of God’s majesty. Seek to know the lessons it is ready to teach.”– Sathya Sai Baba, October 4, 1970

Go Green Conference study circles sought to increase personal awareness and create a spiritual foundation for incorporating a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Change is more effective and durable when it is driven by understanding and inner conviction. It connects the head, heart, and hands, thereby promoting spiritual growth and right action. 

Explore key questions and Engage in reflective practices here:  GGC-Study-Circle-Summary.pdf

Renew your commitment to sustainability!

By working together, we can make a meaningful impact on our planet and leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Let’s continue to love and nurture our planet, while inspiring others to join us in creating a greener, more sustainable future.🌍 

Share with us the environmental initiatives and tree-planting activities you are organizing in your communities/countries/Zones at gogreen@sathyasai.org.

READ the article ‘Why Tree Planting expresses our faith in God’ by the Environmental Sustainability Committee

VISIT the Environmental Sustainability Hub for more insights, Go Green tips and resources.👨‍🌾

With Sai Love and Care,

Environmental Sustainability Committee 

Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

References

_{¹. Sai100 Initiative - Offering for 100th Birthday}

_{². Buhar, G.N.H. (2016). Feasibility of improving water quality using Terminalia arjuna medicinal plant and its' economic benefits [Master's theses, University of Moratuwa]. Institutional Repository University of Moratuwa. http://dl.lib.mrt.ac.lk/handle/123/12794}

_{³.Alam, Afroz & Iwuala, Emmanuel & Deshwal, Kanchan. (2019). Contemporary medicinal uses of ethnomedicinally important plant: Arjuna [Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn.]. Annals of Phytomedicine: An International Journal. 8. 63-69. 10.21276/ap.2019.8.1.7.}