Nagaland govt hosts tree planting drive at NIMSR, Kohima on World Environment Day

Nagaland, India: In response to growing concerns about the impact of climate change, Nagaland took proactive steps on Monday by organizing plantation and cleanliness drives throughout the state to mark World Environment Day (WED) under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution.”

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force in Nagaland highlighted the participation of various state government departments and organizations in conducting outreach and advocacy activities. These efforts were aimed at mobilizing the masses towards a common goal known as Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

By emphasizing the significance of this initiative, Nagaland sought to address the urgent need for environmental preservation and combat the detrimental effects of plastic pollution.

In Phek, a large-scale tree planting event took place to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the formation of Phek District. The event was organized by the Chakhesang Public Organisation in collaboration with the Phek District Administration.

Kumar Ramnikant, the Deputy Commissioner of Phek, expressed his gratitude to the CPO for making the tree planting drive a community-wide effort every year in the district. He commended their dedication to bringing about positive change in the area.

Ramnikant also praised the villages for their responsibility in nurturing the saplings. He encouraged everyone to focus on planting and caring for individual saplings, rather than counting the number of trees planted. By doing so, he emphasized that we can give back to Mother Earth and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Vezuhu Keyho, President of the Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO), highlighted the responsibility of the community to enhance the beauty of roads and highways and take care of the trees, considering the government’s efforts in constructing good roads in the district.

Governor La. Ganesan, speaking at Kohima Raj Bhavan, acknowledged the widespread impact of global environmental concerns such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution on people’s daily lives.

He emphasized the importance of citizens taking action against plastic pollution, highlighting the urgent need for such actions. He mentioned that the excessive use of plastic worldwide has surpassed the capacity for recycling, resulting in detrimental effects on humans, animals, and the environment.

During the event, the Governor inaugurated the website “Clicktoplant” and introduced the mascot named Nino for the Ecotourism Management Committee of Tuophema village in Kohima.

“Clicktoplant” is an innovative initiative by the Kohima Forest Division, allowing individuals to plant tree saplings online from the comfort of their homes by making online payments. The actual plantation will be carried out in Nagaland during the dedicated planting season from April to June.

During the program, the governor participated in the first-ever online tree plantation.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio expressed his thoughts on Twitter, emphasizing the significant environmental challenge posed by plastic pollution. He highlighted the importance of global collaboration in addressing this issue and urged everyone to adopt the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling. He concluded his message with the hashtag #BeatPlasticPollution.

As part of the initiative, tree planting activities were carried out at the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) in Kohima. During the event, Chief Secretary J Alam emphasized the need for immediate action to tackle climate change.