Gujarat Dairy Cooperatives - better known as Amul, have taken up an ambitious plan to save the environment by planting trees, making India green and thereby reducing the effects of global warming. The milk producers of Gujarat Dairy Cooperatives are conducting mass tree plantation drive every year on Independence Day for last three years. In last three years (2007, 2008 & 2009) the milk producers have planted around 155.68 lakhs trees 09). The most striking feature of these entire programmes was that it has been initiated by milk producer members of the dairy cooperatives. The unique fact about the programme was that the milk producer members took up the oath to protect tree saplings till it survives and grows into tree.

Over the years, due to intensive agriculture and dairying various natural resources have been depleted in Gujarat. The state level apex body of dairy farmers in Gujarat gave a serious thought in this direction and discovered a novel idea for giving back to nature. The idea was "one member one tree" plantation on our 60th Independence day – 15th August 2007.

To put this idea in to the practice a design team constituting of representatives of member unions were formed. The team accepted the idea by heart and immediately decided to spread it among farmer members of village dairy cooperative societies. Then the idea was communicated to farmer members and they all welcomed it and enthusiastically agreed to implement the idea.

For smooth implementation of the idea, the design team chalked out the road map for various activities. Execution teams were formed at district union level to give final shape and put the plan in action. Village level coordinators were identified and they were trained to streamline activity of tree plantation. Various awareness materials were prepared. Through various communication media farmer members were made aware of benefits of tree plantation and tree plantation activity schedule.

The entire plantation activity was coordinated at all the three tiers of Anand pattern - at village, district and state level dairy cooperatives. On 15th August, 2007, after the flag hoisting ceremony, each member took an oath to plant saplings and ensure that they grew in to trees. Then individually they planted sapling on their own at their identified locations like their farm, near their home, on Farm bunds, etc. They have taken necessary care to ensure that this sapling survives and they also reported regarding the survival to village level coordinator and district milk unions after five months.

To further this movement they have also decided to conduct such event on every Independence Day. In this way, 18.9 lakh trees were planted on 15th August 2007. This all required meticulous planning and mammoth efforts at level.

Inspired by the success of tree plantation carried out in 2007, milk producer members of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF Ltd.) have carried out the same exercise on 61st Independence day on 15th August, 2008 on "one member three tree" basis, in which 52.74 lakhs tree saplings were planted.

Further, in year 2009, milk producers have again conducted mass tree plantation and planted around 84.04 lakhs trees. The programme was conducted on “One member, Five tree” basis.

Hence, in last three years, milk producers of GCMMF planted around 155.68 lakhs tree saplings. By doing so, milk producers of Gujarat Dairy Cooperatives have shown their concern, awareness and commitment for betterment of environment. Yearwise details of tree plantation and survival of tree saplings planted is as under.

Sr. No	Year of tree plantation	No. of trees planted (in lakhs)	No. of trees Survived (in lakhs)	Survival percentage
1	2007	18.90	11	57
2	2008	52.74	26	48
3	2009	84.04	43*	51
Total		155.68	79	51

*estimated (as survey for survival percentage of the saplings planted in year 2009 is ongoing)

This is a praiseworthy effort given the fact that during last two years, Gujarat has lost around 100 square kilometer (sq km) of forest area due to human activity. This is a good 13 per cent of the national loss (728 sq km) of forest area that roughly equals the limits of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). According to statistics of Forest Survey of India considering on an average 30-40 cm diameter of these trees 106 trees would provide one hectare of green tree cover. Considering 51% survivability of planted trees (based on post plantation survey data, around 79 lakhs out of 155.68 lakhs tree planted survived during last three years), when they fully grow up, would provide additional 74528 ha. of green cover which is additional 3.42 percent forest cover of Gujarat State of India.

This effort to provide green cover to the earth was also acknowledged when the state level apex body of Gujarat Dairy Cooperatives - GCMMF received two successive prestigious "SRISHTI’s G-Cube Award"-2007 and 2008 for Good Green Governance in the “Service Category”.

The producer members of GCMMF have really set an example for all the cooperatives and other institutions to turn India green in the era of Global warming and environmental crisis.

When 2.8 million dairy farmers of Gujarat have planted more than 155.68 lakh trees in just three years and are planning to plant more trees every year, they are doing an invaluable - truly Amul - service to the society.

In an era of global warming, Amul is contributing its share in making Gujarat lush green. In this way, the milk producers of Gujarat are ushering in a silent revolution of greening Gujarat.