Plantation drive on World Forest Day 2021 by the Voice of Environment at
Arya Vidyapeeth College, Guwahati, Assam
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 March as the International Day of Forests in 2012. This Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national, and international activities involving forests and trees, such as tree-planting campaigns.
The theme of the International Day of Forests for 2021 is “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being.” The restoration and sustainable management of forests can help in addressing the issues related to climate change and biodiversity. It also carries the potential to produce goods and services for sustainable development, fostering an economic activity that creates jobs and improves lives.
On the occasion of World International Day of Forests 2021, the team Voice of Environment conducted a plantation drive cum awareness campaign at Arya Vidyapeeth College, Guwahati Assam to motivate the youths and college students for environmental sustainability, nation building activities, green and food secured state, which is a continuous mission that has started by the team earlier.
The team Voice of Environment (VoE) team led by Bhaskhar Hazarika, Sabita Dutta gathered at the college campus in the morning and started the drive with fruit and medicinal plant saplings.College students supported the campaign, SUO Chinmay Deka from (National Cadet Corps) led the NCC team, with active participation by NCC cadet Shri Chandan Kumar, Shri Sudeep Dey, Shri Meraj Alam, and Shri Rohan Kumar respectively. Environmentalist and Researcher, Moharana Choudhury was present during the drive. Environmentalist Choudhury said about the significance of plants and how it is directly related to our ecological balance, food security, and clean green Assam mission. Students and youths are future leaders of the country. They play a significant role in nation-building initiatives; therefore, the team has decided to conduct the drive at college premises on this occasion to convey a message to all the students and youths of the state for joining hands for such initiatives throughout the state so that the state as well as the nation can become self-sufficient, food secured and green. Since the entire world is facing COVID-19 pandemic crisis, so we all need to think for better, clean, green, food secured and sustainable environment. The team believes, “together, we can make a difference.” Environmentalist Choudhury also added that “Sustainable management of forests along with the judicious use of their resources is the primary way to combat climate change and therefore contributes to prosperity and well-being of present and future generations. Forests have an important role to play in poverty eradication and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs).