It was sometime in June 2005 that the first stirrings of a new movement for trees began in Chennai. A few of us who felt a need for an organization to speak for trees, joined together to form NIZHAL (shade), a trust to promote concern for trees in the city, which was registered in September 2005.

The idea was to bring about awareness on the role of trees in our lives and on the need to plant, propagate and care for trees for the benefit of all.		 Click to view in detail
Nizhal initiated one major project, the greening of Kattuppalli, and many smaller ones like trees surveys and tree walks in its first year. Nizhal also paved the way for advocacy by meeting with the Commissioner of Chennai Corporation and the Chiefs of the Highways and Forestry Departments.

If the first year was busy, the following years have been more so. Nizhal has been actively involved in various greening activities around the city, has conducted several tree walks, tree surveys and “free the tree” campaigns. Nizhal has also conducted awareness sessions for schools, colleges and varied citizen groups. All this has been possible through the efforts of a growing volunteer base comprising of volunteers of all ages from all walks of life.
Trustees
Shobha Menon (Managing Trustee) is a freelance journalist and editor. She writes on matters of social and environmental significance to The Hindu, The New Indian Express and the Madras Musings, besides others, and enjoys working with communities on sensitive greening.
Kamakshi Subramaniyan has been a community activist for many decades. She works as a Senior Education Consultant, with Time Life Books.
M Sundararaman is a Mechanical Engineer who retired as Purchase Director, Drectorate General of Supplies and Disposals, New Delhi. He has been a ardent advocate of community greening for many decades.
Pattammal Chandrasekhar is a keen enthusiast of greening and community work. She has been a volunteer at Bala Vidyalaya, the School for Young Deaf Children in Shastri Nagar for many years.
Aruna Chandrasekhar is a graphic designer by profession. She has worked extensively within the community of water management, waste management issues and greening concepts.
Advisors
Dattatri.G was formerly Chief Urban Planner, CMDA
Dr.Sekhar Raghavan is the Director of Rain Centre, Chennai
S.Theodore Baskaran, a writer and naturalist, was the former Chief Postmaster General.
Dr. P. Dayanandan was the former HOD, Botany, Madras Christian College  
Natesan S, Organic Farmer, Karanodai
 
7 Tree Walk at Science City, Birla Planetarium | 3rd Jul
6 Tree Walk at St. George's Cathedral
| 4th Jul
5 Outreach at Ashok Nagar | 4th Jul
4 Outreach at Trustpuram Ladies club
| 21th Jul
3 Outreach at GillAdarsh | 31st Jul
2 Outreach at MMC, Tambaram
| 2nd Aug
1 Outreach at Lions Club, Tambaram
| 6th Aug
1 Tree Walk at St. George's Cathedral
| 8th Aug
1 Tree Walk at Sakthi Engineering
college, Thiruninravur | 11th Aug
1 Outreach at WCC Nungambakkam
| 13th Aug
1 Tree Walk at Theosophical Society
| 14th Aug
1 Tree Walk at WCC Campus | 21st Aug
1 Tree Walk at Alwarpet | 22nd Aug
 
 
 
 
 
 
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