City-NGO aims to plant one lakh native breed saplings

With nearly one lakh trees uprooted in cyclone Vardah which lashed the city last year,a city based NGO has come forward to plant an equal number of saplings of native breeds under its green cover initiative.
EARTHSMILES Trust has taken up the exercise - REGREEN Chennai - which aims to plant one lakh saplings ahead of the monsoon season, a press release said.
One lakh well grown saplings not less than 4.5 feet size before the monsoon season would be planted under the initiative, while small saplings and seeds would be planted in areas which can help develop dense forests, it said.

The NGO has set a target of planting five lakh saplings over the next five year period.
Nearly one lakh trees of total 6.50 lakh trees were uprooted when the cyclone crossed Chennai coast in December last year.