The almighty God has given us the most beautiful and wonderful gifts –the dew –drops, the mist, the fog, the rushing and setting sun, the floating clouds, the rainbow, the green hills, the multi-colored flowers, the silvery moon., the twinkling stars, the snow caped peaks of the mountains, the sparking streams and springs, the animals, the earth we live on, the air, we breathe, and lush green forests.

It is true in the lap of nature, we feel calm and relaxed. It is our duty to look after breathe, and lush green forests.

It is true that in the lap of nature, we calm and relaxed. It is our duty to look after and to preserve nature. Trees are wealth of the nation. It is called ``the lungs of a nation’’. Trees are our best friends. Trees continue to serve us for years, even generation together. It is in the forests that our great sages and saints did propound theories of ethics, wrote the great epic- Ramayana, Mahabharata, Upanishads etc. there were Gurukulas ( residential school in olden days) for Rama and Krishna alike. Our civilization was born in the forests of our country. Ancient Indians were bathed, fed clothed and brought up in the forests.

Trees are said to be ``green gold’’! They are as valuable to us as gold is because they are so useful to us. Trees, meet a large number of our needs. Indeed, trees area part of our national heritage.

Apart from providing wood for fuel, the trees also provide medicinal herbs. Trees also provide different types of fruits. Trees are shelters for bits, insects and beasts. Trees give shade to many a weary traveler in the hot summer. It maintains ecological balance by releasing oxygen absorbing carbon dioxide. Trees are also the sources or buildings materials and furniture as also for farmer’s implements.

In modern days, trees play a vital role in maintaining the genetic diversity of our eco- system. Trees prevent soil erosion during flooding of catchments areas. Trees help in causing rains and they regulate the flow of rivers. They act as bulwarks against desert and sea encroachments by checking extension of sand dunes through afforestation and mangrove forests.

But million of trees are being cut down daily all over the world. When a single tree is cut down- many insects, birds and little animals become homeless. No doubt it is necessary to cut down trees in order to get wood for fuel and furniture, yet we should also plant more trees to replace the ones we have cut down- protect the environment.

So, there is more charm in keeping and growing trees than in feeling them. Let us grow more trees and love them as we grow them with tender care like our own children.

*Don’t cut the trees, grow more plants