Coimbatore’s Tree Man continues his greening efforts despite challenges

“I have been planting saplings wherever I go for the past 38 years. I hope to plant more in the future, at least one every day,” says M Yoganathan, who is better known as The Tree Man of Coimbatore.

Having hung up his boots as a conductor with the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), Yoganathan feels he has retired from his profession but not from his passion — tree planting. Yoganathan has planted over five lakh of trees in various parts of Tamil Nadu during his service in TNSTC as he held firm his passion for greening efforts, without compromising his love for his profession.

His love for planting trees and nurturing fauna began in his childhood, when he used to visit tea plantations in the Nilgiris where his mother worked, recalls Yoganathan.

It was in the Nilgiris, too, where his appreciation for Nature turned into a need to safeguard it when he witnessed multiple instances of illegal logging. He wrote letters to higher authorities regarding the unauthorised felling of trees, but to no avail.

He continued to fight illegal deforestation throughout his adulthood, adopting more sustainable ways of promoting tree planting, such as educating the youth about the importance of flora and fauna and conducting street plays to raise awareness about mindless deforestation.

Yoganathan has planted several lakhs of trees across a variety of landscapes
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Through his interest in agriculture, he taught himself about the plants around him and the science behind them. He chose to impart this knowledge to the young, impressionable minds of students. “I find great joy in talking to school students about this issue as they carry this awareness with them for the rest of their lives,” says Yoganathan, recalling how he used to carry a slide projector everywhere he went to teach students about the importance of conserving nature.

Having planted several lakhs of trees across a variety of landscapes, Yoganathan notes: “It is crucial to know which kinds of saplings will prosper in a certain area and what soil and climate each sapling needs. It is only then that these saplings will prosper into trees that serve a community.”  

A cancer survivor, Yoganathan’s zeal for conservation has not died down over the years. “Rampant destruction of nature around us in the name of development is frightening. My goal is to raise awareness among the public and encourage them to join my cause,” he reflects at his home at Ganapathy in the city. According to Yoganathan, most people feel that only extraordinary deeds can help our environment. He clarifies that this is not the case. “All one has to do to build a greener future is to plant at least one tree in their lifetime,” he asserts.

“Every time you eat a fruit, instead of throwing away the seed, you can plant it and watch it grow over the years. The joy of watching the trees you have planted take root and grow is truly something extraordinary,” he says. The green crusader, however, is pained by recent developmental activities taking place in Coimbatore, unmindful of conserving its green cover.

“Coimbatore is a city that has all the natural resources you need — from rivers to mountains to lakes. But recently, due to mindless deforestation, the growth of the city has come at the price of the quality of water and fauna, and the public is severely affected by it,” he reflects.

Yoganathan wants to dedicate more time for nature conservation in his post-retirement life. He wishes to start a nursery and supply saplings at affordable prices to the public. “When you put good deeds into the world, good things come back,” he comments, glancing at various awards and accolades that he earned for his conservation efforts.