My love for trees began when I developed an interest in birdwatching. I believe this might be the case for many birdwatchers out there. Naturally, when you start observing birds, you begin paying attention to their habitats. In my quest to spot rare birds, I found myself gathering information about their eating habits, nesting preferences, and favorite trees.
It soon became clear to me that if I wanted to find more bird species, I needed to focus on the trees they were drawn to. This realization sparked my curiosity about trees that attract birds.
I distinctly remember reading about the Jamaican cherry tree—a fast-growing species that many fruit-eating birds and bats love. Around June or July, three years ago, I bought a Jamaican cherry sapling and planted it in the garden around my building. For the first six months, I diligently watered and cared for it. At the time, I was still in college, and as exam season approached, my studies consumed all my attention. I completely forgot about the sapling I had planted. Luckily, the irrigation system in my building’s garden ensured its survival.
College life kept me busy, and for the next two years, I didn’t think much about the tree. Then one day, as I was entering the building gate, I spotted a bird. On closer inspection, I realized it was a bulbul, happily feasting on cherries from a tree. That’s when it hit me—it was the very tree I had planted two years earlier!
By then, the tree had grown to six or seven feet tall and was laden with small, juicy cherries. I stood there for several minutes, marveling at it. It was such a joyful experience, a true sense of accomplishment. There’s something indescribable about seeing a tree you planted years ago become a favorite spot for birds. In a way, you’ve created a tiny ecosystem.
Soon, I began looking for more space around my building to plant additional trees—it almost became an obsession. During this time, I joined an NGO that focuses on creating man-made forests using native species of trees and plants. Through the NGO, I met people who were just as passionate about trees as I was. Since then, I’ve continued my journey of learning about biodiversity, trees, and their impact on nature and our immediate surroundings.
This experience taught me something crucial about conservation—something that is often overlooked by individuals and even governments. The realization is this:
You will never protect anything to which you are not emotionally attached.
My connection with that cherry tree was deeply emotional, and it was this experience that awakened my awareness of nature and its conservation.
This emotional connection is precisely what’s missing in today’s conservation efforts. People participate in awareness sessions and tree plantation drives, but without forming a personal bond with nature. Intellectually, everyone can understand the importance of saving the environment, but that understanding alone is not enough. We are emotional beings, and only when we feel a deep, personal connection to nature can our efforts to protect it truly succeed.
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