Best Practices I
Title: ‘Plant Trees, Save Trees’

Objectives (100):

1. To create green and beautiful college campus.
2. To avail shadow of trees for the college students.
3. To stop the soil erosion.
4. To raising groundwater level.
5. To create awareness among the students about importance of nature and tree 
6. cultivation.
7. To inspire society for environment protection and protection of Natural resources.
8. To keep the balance of nature, avoid pollution, stop soil erosion, etc.

 The Context :(150)
Shivjagruti college is located one kilometre away from the village ‘Nalegaon.’
In January 2016, the college shifted in its own building. Before shifting in this building, the college started planting trees in new campus. The volunteers of the N.S.S. department and all the peons in the college participated in tree plantation and played a vital role. In the best practice ‘Plant Trees, Save Trees’ to implement this activity, a committee has been established with the name ‘Environment Conservation Committee’ Dr. Arvind Kadam is the head of the committee. Prof. Nilkanth Bolegave and Dr. Kailas Palne are appointed as the assistant of the committee. The committee started to work for trees plantation during the special camp of N.S.S. A Green Army which was formed by Principal Dr. Sanjay Waghmare to implement the tree plantation effectively. Farmer union home Minister Hon. Shivraj Patil Chakurkar has been involved in tree plantation program for the academic year 2018-19.

The year-wise report of tree plantation is as follows:
Year                  Trees
 2015-2016 -     37
 2016-2017 -     79
 2017-2018 -     76
 2018-2019 -   102
 2019-2020 -     96

The Trees include Ficus Reliogiosa, Royal Poinciana, Cluster Fig, Aegle Marmeleos, AzadirachtaIndica, Tamarind, Bouhinda Racemosa, Jackfruit, Sapodilla Sapoa, Pinwheel Flower,Mango Banyan Tree, Spanish Cherry, Bur-Flower Tree Almond, Coconut Tree, Saraca Asoka, Champa, Bougainvillea, Hibiscus, Drumstick Curry Tree, Yellow Flame Tree, Wood-apple Alstonia, Milingtonia Hartensis, Mahogany, Custard Apple, Melia Dubia, Teak Marking Nut, Black Plum and Butea Monosperma, etc.Thus the total number of trees planted during the five years from 2015-16 to 2019-20 under ‘Best Practice is 390.

The Practice :(400)
The specialty of the best practice ‘Plant Trees, Save Trees’ in our college is that Marathwada is a region where water is scarce, and in the Latur district the water where has to be supplied by train, this practice was successfully implemented. The trees have been donated to the college as a gift by the Principal, Professors, non-teaching staff, students’ parents and farmers. To grow the trees, they need to be watered. A drip system is used to water the plant and trees. This expenditure is the part college. The student's Volunteers, Professors, Green Army, and the Environment Committee make efforts to save the trees. This practice inspires many students’ parents, citizens, schools and offices for plantation by their own. This activity is not only useful for the college students and staff but other social stake holders. Neem- Azadirachta India, Peepal- Ficusreligiosa, Banyan tree and Cluster fin, etc. are important for health.

The University has prescribed ‘Environment Education’ as a compulsory subject for the third year students. Practical knowledge of environment protection can be gain through ‘Plant Trees, Save Trees’ program.

Evidence of Success (200):

• A farmer Mr. Takbidwe gifted 10 Custard-apple trees.
• Many trees are growing and students are getting benefit of its shadow and studying underneath of trees.
•  It is giving a natural beautiful look to the campus with its fruits and flowers and gives fresh airs.
• The trees grow fast and within five years the campus became green.
• In the year 2016 Drip system was fixed for watering the trees and onward tree get enough water. 
• Star fences have been erected on all sides of the college to protect the trees from animals.
• Problems Encountered and Resources Required: (150)

The problem of water is main problem in this location.
The soil is not fertile. Therefore, it is difficult to grow trees. The college has its bore well but in summer season the water level goes down so plants and trees can’t get enough water. The water supply for trees through the bore well was not enough, especially in the summer season. So the water was supplied by a tanker and the trees were kept alive.In the beginning students and peons used to water the trees using a pipe which was inconvenient.Some passers-by the road and animals used to destroy the trees on the campus as there was no fencing.

Other Information:
‘Plant Trees, Save Trees’ is not only as a best practice but also as a social enterprise. The college wants to give the message to planting and cultivating trees as well as keeping the environmental balance by increasing the participation of the society. In the future, the college wants to implement the program outside the campus also. The aim of the college in future is to save the trees that are rare the trees that exist in nature but rarely found in our surrounding should be saved and the people should be inspired to plant more and more trees is the aim of the college. The college also aims at planting medicinal and useful trees that can be used for the benefit of society.