The 77th Van Mahotsav was launched across Manipur on Wednesday with large-scale plantation drives and awareness programmes under the nationwide “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0” campaign, reaffirming the state’s commitment to environmental conservation and increasing green cover.
The state-level celebration was inaugurated at Chingkhu Mayai Leikai in Imphal West by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Anurag Bajpai, IFS. Describing forests as vital for climate regulation, water security and biodiversity conservation, he said the Forest Department has set a target of planting around 15 lakh saplings across Manipur during Van Mahotsav.
He called on government departments, educational institutions, youth organisations and the public to transform the campaign into a people’s movement by ensuring the survival of every sapling planted.
Mass plantation drives were simultaneously organised across several districts. In Thoubal, around 150 saplings were planted at Nongpok Sekmai, while Chief Conservator of Forests Longjam Joykumar Singh urged citizens to actively protect forests and combat climate change.
In Tengnoupal, plantation drives were held at Maojang and Heingoukhong villages, accompanied by free distribution of saplings across the Moreh, Tengnoupal and Machi ranges.
The Chandel Forest Division launched its campaign by planting around 800 saplings at the 8th Manipur Rifles campus and announced a target of planting 1.10 lakh saplings during July, with incentives for villages recording the highest sapling survival rate.
In Senapati, more than 2,000 indigenous saplings were planted around the Karong Water Reservoir. Officials highlighted the importance of forest conservation for water security and announced a district target of planting over one lakh seedlings.
The week-long celebration also began in Churachandpur, where officials launched a plantation drive at Saikot Community Hall under the theme “A Tree Today, A Thousand Smiles Tomorrow,” alongside awareness programmes and distribution of awards to winners of an environmental painting competition.
Meanwhile, the Ukhrul Forest Division launched an ambitious district-wide campaign targeting the plantation of 2.10 lakh saplings. Plantation drives were held at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Shokvao and several other locations, while forest officials announced the expansion of community-based forest conservation initiatives and wildlife monitoring through camera traps under the COSFOM project.
The Forest Department said plantation and awareness programmes will continue throughout Van Mahotsav across all forest divisions in collaboration with local communities, educational institutions, security forces, government departments and civil society organisations to strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable environmental stewardship.
