VATA Foundation: Leading charge for Tree conservation in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Uday Krishna Peddireddi, a wildlife photographer who set out to ‘save the tigers’, has saved more than 2,500 trees by relocating them in and around the city.
VATA Foundation was originally called ASVATTHA Foundation and was officially registered as an NGO in 2015. Due to a pre-existing name conflict, the ASVATTHA Foundation was renamed the VATA Foundation, with ‘VATA’ representing the symbol of the banyan tree.
“Hyderabad, as a developing city, was experiencing rapid growth, resulting in the loss of numerous trees. During a project collaboration with GHMC in 2010, 16 trees were to be cut down for development purposes. I decided to relocate them instead. Of the 16 trees, 13 successfully survived the process, which prompted me to make resettlement one of the foundation’s main activities. This was the birth of our organization,” says Uday Krishna.
Method of Translocation
“As a non-funded organisation, our main goal is to save trees. We usually receive orders or notices from the government to cut down trees, so we are the lifeline for these trees. Although the government does not provide funds for the relocation of trees, we carry out the process quickly and at short notice,” explains Uday.
Explaining the technique for packing the trees, he emphasised the need for a quick and efficient process due to limited time and resources. The key is to relocate the trees as quickly and as close to their original location as possible to ensure a higher survival rate. Ideally, the trees are replanted within an hour of being relocated.
When asked about the necessity of relocation, Uday Krishna emphasised that it should only be considered as a last resort in development projects where trees are affected. Felling should be avoided altogether, with relocation being a viable alternative. Timing is crucial and trees cannot be relocated in the height of summer.
“The majority of the city’s development projects take place in the summer, needing meticulous government planning. Translocation protocols need to be defined and followed. For example, if road widening necessitates tree removal, the government should notify us in advance so that we can begin the translocation process during the rainy season. The co-founder explained that this dramatically enhances the trees’ survival rates. The principal motivations for tree translocation are development initiatives including road widening and subway construction, ” he added.
Individuals interested in translocation efforts can contact the VATA Foundation at Vatafoundation@gmail.com or fill the form online
