Seerat-Un-Nisa
Srinagar, June 5: Massive plantation drives were carried out across Kashmir on Friday as government departments, security agencies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and social workers joined hands to mark World Environment Day, planting thousands of saplings and launching campaigns aimed at strengthening environmental conservation efforts.
The Valley witnessed coordinated plantation programmes in several districts amid growing concerns over climate change, shrinking forest cover, erratic weather patterns and environmental degradation. Officials said the drives were intended not only to increase green cover but also to promote public participation in protecting natural resources.
Earlier today, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in their World Environment Day messages, called for collective action to safeguard Jammu and Kashmir’s fragile ecosystem. They urged citizens to actively contribute towards protecting forests, water bodies and biodiversity, stressing that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility.
In north Kashmir’s Sopore, police planted more than 500 saplings across police stations, police posts and the District Police Lines during a district-wide plantation drive. Senior officers and personnel participated in the programme and pledged to ensure the survival and maintenance of the saplings.
Similar events were held in several other districts where the Forest Department, in collaboration with district administrations, educational institutions and local bodies, organized plantation campaigns, awareness programmes and cleanliness drives. Officials said afforestation remains one of the key strategies for addressing the effects of climate change and preserving ecological balance in the region.
In Bandipora district, the Hills and Hearts Foundation, in collaboration with the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW) and the Forest Department, organized a plantation drive in the Panar area. Around 60 women and girls participated in the programme, planting 40 saplings on land identified for ecological restoration.
Foundation founder Kifayatullah Malik said environmental protection requires practical action alongside awareness. He emphasized the role of women and youth in promoting sustainable practices and carrying environmental messages into communities.
Officials said plantation drives were also conducted in various government offices, schools and public spaces across Kashmir, with thousands of saplings planted during the day. Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that Kashmir’s ecosystem is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including frequent floods, drought-like conditions, declining snowfall and loss of forest cover.
Authorities said the plantation campaigns would continue in the coming weeks as part of broader efforts to improve green cover and encourage community participation in environmental protection.
