Professor in India Has Planted 2,500 Trees to Improve Air Quality on College Campuses

University of Mumbai (MU) professor and head of the National Service Scheme (NSS) postgraduate unit, Hubnath Pandey, is helping improve the city’s air quality in a significant way. In the past four years, Pandey has made it his mission to plant trees and create a “green belt” to combat the damaging effects of Mumbai’s expansive industrialization. Pandey told the Hindustan Times, “The abnormal rise in temperatures during the month of March clearly indicates that we are cutting trees, but not planting the same number in their place.”

Professor Pandey has planted 2,500 trees on two college campuses in Mumbai, and he takes care of them with the help of seventy-five volunteers. Coconut, fig, palm, and banyan are just a few of the types of trees planted by Pandey.  He explained, “Planting, nurturing and saving trees is the only solution to reduce the adverse effects of Global warming…The idea is to transform the Kalina campus into a green belt. Even if a number of infrastructure projects are going on, the Pollution can be contained by this green cover.”

Additionally, Pandey writes poetry about saving the planet by planting trees. He hopes to inspire students to act in the fight against climate change. Pandey states his work “is ultimately for the students to realize the impact of our carbon footprint and how we can reduce it through small endeavors.”

If you are inspired by this awesome professor, please consider creating a “green belt” of your own and plant trees and gardens to help improve the air quality in your neck of the woods. Creating a neighborhood tree planting event is another excellent way to spread the green message, improve air quality, and bring your community together to ignite positive change. It is small acts from dedicated environmentalists like Hubnath Pandey that are creating the change our planet needs to survive, and you can join him!

Image Source: Pramod Thakur / Hindustan Times