In the years of not-so-away, when still all the houses aren’t turned into flats and the size of the house wasn’t so small, there were the people who planted a tree for a newborn baby.
We are far from those days, and it may be a long time has passed since the days when there was space for a seedling in the yard of all the houses, and for this reason, we have forgotten the costs of planting seedlings.
A 400-year-old tree lives in Lishak forest at the height where the seedlings are to be planted. This tree has been watching the cuttings of its family seedlings for years, and you are going to bring the passion of life back to it. We are going to return all the family members by planting seedlings.
In this text, in addition to the tips for planting and maintaining seedlings, you will find out what the money you pay for buying seedlings will be spent on. But before you go into the details, you need to know a few things about the challenges of planting on the clear-cutting. Planting conditions on the clear-cutting are different for the reasons I explain below.
• Turning forests into pastures
• a good place to graze cattle
• Loss of Supportive roots of trees
• Turning forests into pastures
Over time, the clear-cutting forest becomes pasture, which accelerates the growth of weeds in these areas. Due to clearcutting or change of use in the Lishak area of Siahkal, which has happened over the years, ferns have grown in this area, which is locally called pilam.
Land conditions in Lishak of Siahkal forest and other forests of northern Iran are ready for any growth and due to the height and fertility of the land and other characteristics of plant growth, the height of these ferns is very high, and pruning them requires a skilled workforce.

A good place to graze cattle
We talked about cut clearing the forest and growing ferns and turning the forest into a pasture, but there are other challenges. What better place than pastures for grazing cattle? You must say that livestock is prohibited from entering national public lands. right, but due to the lack of consideration for the participation of local people in previous projects and the fact neglect of their effective role in protecting the forest, livestock enters the fenced areas in different ways.
Consider that if livestock enters the planting area, it either eats the young seedlings as a tasty, fresh food or crushes them without seeing them. To prevent this, around the planting area are fenced provided to take care of it.

Loss of Supportive roots of trees
When the forest is clear-cut the supporting roots of the mother species are lost. Therefore, there is no mother root of support species that retains the necessary water and nutrients in the surface layers of the soil. We all know that no creature can live without water for long, so young seedlings die of hunger and thirst. Of course, to solve this problem, we irrigate the forest periodically until the trees grow enough and can absorb water and nutrients from the soil themselves.
Tips for planting and maintaining seedlings and preparing planting conditions
After removing the challenges of forest clearcutting, it’s time to prepare the land for planting that include the following:
• Fencing and dig hole for planting seedlings
• Preparing soil conditions for planting seedlings
• Planting seedlings and maintenance
• Watering seedlings planted in and weeding
• Periodic reviews and replanting

Fencing and dig hole for planting seedlings
An area as wide as the forest is intended for fencing so that each sapling has its own safe house. The size of all the houses is the same and the conditions are provided for the presence of each seedling in their house.
Preparing soil conditions for planting seedlings
The ferns and weeds are gone and everything is ready to move to a new home. For each sapling, a house the size of a hole is provided, and they count the moments to enter the house in which they are to live forever. The house of seedlings is a pit filled with enriched soil, and the seedlings are supposed to live in a zigzag pattern, decussate and not in a line, along with other species of the family, due to the observance of the ecosystem.
You must be asking why they should be zigzag and not all of the same types!? Before answering this question, we must say where is the forest? Do not be surprised. The forest is not just a place where many trees live together. When different species of trees and animals live together, the forest is formed. Of course, this matter has other advantages.
When trees of different species are next to each other, they are more resistant to pests. Also, the variety of seedlings planted shows a beautiful harmony of color and form, and the forest looks denser. With all this in mind, seedlings live healthier in their homes.

Planting seedlings and maintenance
Each seedling is housed in its own home. But in winter when the weather is very cold, we are worrying about their weak roots that may be freezing. Because the Lishak area of Siahkal, where they live, is located at a high altitude, they may be exposed to damage at any time.
We understand the concerns of the seedlings and have come up with ideas for the cold winter days. All of us wear warm clothes to protect ourselves from the cold of winter. The seedlings are covered with grass like a scarf. If there is no grass, still don’t worry! straw and clover will replace with grass, so the seedlings can survive a safe and warm winter away from any worries.

Watering seedlings planted in and weeding
Planting seedlings is not the last step of our work and it is the beginning of our commitment to the preservation and restoration of the forest and its creatures. As spring approaches, ferns begin to grow again and compete with seedlings for nutrients from the soil. At this point, we start weeding. We prune the weeds and the process of watering the seedlings according to the changes in temperature begins.
You may be surprised and say that the forest doesn’t need watering. What’s the matter?! You are right. Forests indeed provide their water resources, but this is not about clear-cut forests. Due to the lack of support roots mentioned earlier, we have to irrigate the forests and take care of the seedlings until they can provide resources from the soil and draw water from the underlying layers.

Periodic reviews and replanting
Despite all care, the seedlings may not survive the winter and burn. Periodic surveys show that we are there for them and that we support and care for them after they settle into their homes. If the seedlings are damaged or burnt, it will be determined in the examinations and the problem will be solved. This process may continue until the last days of spring and the damaged seedlings are replanted.

Seedling planting costs
The housing of seedlings and after becoming a tree, housing other creatures such as animals, birds, reptiles, and even insects have costs that by reading this section, you will understand how your 5€ (for real people) are spent.
In the text, the steps of planting seedlings were explained. The first issue to keep the seedlings safe is fencing, which includes the purchase of barbed wire, nails, base wood, and so on.
The next part is to add a team of skilled workforce to the “Bani Jungle” project, which will help us to weed, fence, plant seedlings and have a guard. Of course, there is also a shed where the guard can take care of the seedlings at all times.
There is another part of the care costs, which includes buying antifungals for seeds, fertilizers, shovels and pickaxes, and so on.
As mentioned, the land is allotted to each house. For this purpose, mapping and of course GPS is needed so that in addition to digging the same houses for the seedlings, the exact location of each one is also known.
Besides, the jungle team is aware of other issues. We have a secretariat in the “Bani Jungle” project, where everything about the project is recorded so that we can serve you with reports of work and expenses done on the site and Instagram.
Some of us manage the site and Instagram in the form of a technical team. For you to have a comfortable and safe purchase, a lot of work has been done on the site and Instagram, and this work continues.
We explained the steps of planting seedlings and growing them in the right way and the costs and people who participate in the “Bani Jungle” project. Seedlings today; Tomorrow is home to our animals, insects, birds and oxygen, and even babies who have not yet been born. In a word, all the creatures on the earth are staring at our hands to plant it, to make the earth a much more favorable place for the future to live and more suitable conditions for breathing.
The “Bani Jungle” project replants the lost 400-year-old Quercus seedlings so that he, like us, can laugh and be happy with his family and make the earth a better place for all creatures to breathe and live.