India is a country with rich bio-diversity, more precisely one of the twelve mega bio-diversity in the world. But equally great is the challenge to maintain and nurture this richness in the face of burgeoning population and rising demands. To understand the need of trees and a clean healthy environment we need to look at the forest wealth of the Indian sub-continent vis-a-vis the globe.

Palaco-botanical evidence testifies to the fact that there were dense forests in the Permian period, 250 million years ago Man was evolved in the beginning of the Pleistocene Age, only about a million years ago. At this time India had thick forests except in Rajasthan and parts of Punjab buried under a swamp, the remnant of the receding Tethys sea.

They introduced the use of iron for making axes, javelins, ploughs etc. There is evidence that at this period a Dravidian civilisation of a high order flourished in the country with its roots in the far South which apparently lived in consonance with the thick extensive forest and its wild life. The Aryans were primarily pastoral people. To construct shelters for themselves and for their domesticated animals they cleared the forests wherever they went But even so, being worshippers of nature, they preferred for there abodes, & even for their educational centers, sylvan surroundings & inspiring landscape. It is in such setting that the Vedas, the Upanishads & the Aranyavas were composed which sing the glory of the creator and lay down precepts of conduct for man to live righteously. Human population at this period was very small and forest were still plentiful. When the great epic Ramayana was written there were still dense forests in Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot, Dandakaranya, and Panchvati which abounded in wildlife.

mention the existence of almost impenetrable forests along the Indus. Later, in Kautilya times protection of forests, planting of new species of trees, and preservation of wild life were considered desirable, and a special officer was appointed for the purpose. By the time of Emperor Ashoka, heavy inroads had already been made in to the forests and their absence had begun to be felt. Therefore, as his rock edicts record, this far-sighted monarch ordered that useful tree be planted along the roads and on camping grounds. He also encouraged the cultivation of exotic medicinal plants.Shershah Suri planted tree along the Delhi-Patna highway. The mughals were not forest minded as such but they created exquisite gardens. Emperor Jahangir introduced the famous Chinar tree in the valley of Kashmir. The Mughals also maintained large Shikargahs for hunting. The Ain-e-Akbari records that elephants roamed in the forest as far West as Mhow near Indore. But a century later Aurangzeb found only scrub forest near Burhanpur. The Marathas and the gonds planted mangoes and other useful trees along their marching routes and halting places, some of which are still surviving.

2-Modern Scenario :-
Raising forests needs a new approach and dimension. The forest land comprise merely 18 percent of the geographical area of our country. While the National Forest Policy sets a target of bringing one-third of area under forests for ecological stability and sustainability, this can only be achieved by people's participation. My tree programme provides a unique forum to develop forest by an individual contribution and participation. The tree programme has been started in Agra by Social Forestry Division under aegis of the District administration to sensitise people towards increasing  green cover in the city. The individual effort can thus nurture trees which can add up to grooves and develop the city forest.

This is a unique plantation programme providing partnership between an individual as investor and Govt. as caretaker. Many of us have desire to plant trees but for the lack of time, space and expertise it remains to materialise. Planting isolated trees may still be possible in cities but developing forest or tree cover is just not possible without people’s participation. Avenue plantation and green belt creation needs local support.  Who can deny threat to the monuments and our heritage from air, water, soil noise pollution? Every one expects others to solve the problem, but the solution can be achieved only by action and individual participation.

An individual can work for the protection of monuments in Agra by planting a tree near the monuments or at any available site. The citizens of Agra have started a participatory approach to plant trees near the monuments by small individual investment with the collaborative efforts of the district administration and the department of forests.

3- Site-
In Agra three sites have been selected for "My Tree Programme". These sites are revenue (ceiling) land under forest management by directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court near Taj Mahal, Canal side near Sikandara distributory canal (Protected forest) and in Mau reserve forest near Gailana village . The First site is located near the east gate of the Taj Mahal named MTP site no. 1, second site is near Double Phatak called MTP site no.-2 and  third one is near Gailana village as MTP site no 3.

4- Monitoring mechanisms
(a) Data base-
Data regarding growth of plants will be collected in the following format on the first of October every year and uploaded in the website. Therefore a nature enthusiast can see and monitor the growth of the tree providing a sense of participation and involvement.

(b) The expenditure will be displayed on the website and put up for public audit in the meetings of Taj Nature Walk Vikas Samiti.

5- You can be a member of "my tree programme" (MTP) :-
Taj Mahal is the pride of our country. Vehicles and other activities emit poisonous gases that pollute the atmosphere by degrading the quality of air. Plantation may be one of the effective measures to check it. We can sequester carbon and control air pollution mainly suspended particulate matter (SPM) by tree plantation. My tree programme provides a unique platform to control air pollution and improve environment by active public participation. Thus we can keep our city clean and protect our monuments.

You can contact any of the following for participating in MTP.

Invest Rs. 1100, plant a tree and become part of MTP.

website: http://www.tajnaturewalk.in