Ramachandra Appari was driving down a highway near Hyderabad when he saw rows of trees being cut for road expansion. He slowed down, watched in silence, and felt something shift inside.
The image stayed with him for days. At the time, he worked a stable insurance job. But with a master’s in agriculture, he knew this wasn’t where his heart truly belonged.
He began reading everything he could about saving trees — not in theory, but in practice. That’s when he came across an ancient method called tree translocation.
The technique, used as far back as 2000 BC in Egypt, involved carefully uprooting a tree — roots, soil, and all — and replanting it somewhere new. The idea lit a spark in him.
Stepping off the safe road In 2010, he quit his job and started ‘Green Morning Horticulture Services’, a company that would do exactly that — relocate trees instead of letting them get felled.
Pic: The Tatva
Most people laughed at the idea. “Who’s going to pay you to move trees?” they said. There were threats too. But he kept showing up and planting the idea wherever he could.
Getting the green light His first break came when he pitched the idea to Hyderabad Metro. They agreed to try. And Ramachandra’s team managed to save 800 trees from being cut during the project.
Pic: The Tatva
That success opened doors. Over the next decade, his team would go on to relocate more than 1.5 lakh trees across India — in cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Vizag, and Bengaluru.
The art of moving trees The process begins with pruning — about 80 percent of the branches and leaves are removed. Then a trench is dug around the roots, based on the tree’s age and size.
Pic: The Tatva
The exposed roots are treated with a special mix of chemicals and wrapped in gunny bags to protect them. The tree is then carefully lifted and moved to its new home.
Pic: The Tatva
At the new site, a pit is prepared in advance. The tree is replanted, and the roots are treated again. With care and time, many of them take root and begin to thrive.
Still watering the dream Today, Ramachandra’s company has worked with over 90 species of trees, achieving a survival rate of 80 to 90 percent. To him, each success feels like a small miracle.
Pic: The Tatva
But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. There were moments when funds ran low, support was scarce, and the future uncertain. Still, Ramachandra stayed rooted in his mission.
“Trees are being cut every day,” he says. “We need more people to step up and find solutions. The future depends on it.”