People are being encouraged to address the climate change by participating in the mass tree plantation drive in Northeast India during the World Environment Day Celebrations 2020.

Areas are being identified in different parts of the region to plant trees and save the planet. This initiative not only reduces the impact of climate change but also prevent soil erosion, minimize the risk of flooding and create a better environment for different types of flora and fauna.

Local communities are motivated for plantation drives in their common lands, wastelands, localities, home garden, schools, and other community-owned spaces. Different village councils are suggested to identify the potential site where plantation can be done with the permission of the http://kacgun.com/
land owners.

This year, FARM Northeast programme of Caritas India does not want to confine the celebration of World Environment Day to a single day but throughout the year by planting trees. These plants can be mobilized through Government Departments and other community sources http://cemil.edu.co/
consisting mainly of fruit trees, timber yielding and firewood species and species that are in demand locally. The community pledged to take care of the trees and even if there are extractions, they will plant five to ten times to create a balance in the area.

On June 5, 2020, Caritas India and her partners from FARM Northeast, Anti-Human Trafficking and Disaster Risk Reduction programmes initiated the mass plantation drive. 15,907 tree saplings were planted on a single day throughout seven states of Northeast. The plantations mostly had fruit trees and saplings mobilized from various concerned state government departments and communities.

More than 800 community members including children, women, youth and elders http://www.ittizimin.edu.mx/
participated in large numbers keeping the social distancing norms. Women’s Development Centre (WDC), Purvanchal Pragati Samaj (PPS), Centre for Development Initiative (CDI) & NEDAN Foundation, the valued partners of Disaster Risk Reduction and Anti-Human Trafficking programmes from Northeast also promoted the plantation drive in their areas.

Jana Unnayan Samiti Tripura (JUST) has dedicated June 28, 2020, as Green Sunday in all the parishes of Agartala where the FARM Northeast programme team and community can do plantation in the diocese. JUST also plans to extend the Green Sundays concept throughout the year to involved community at least once in a month dedicated for plantation.

Jaintia Hills Development Society (JHDS), Seva Kendra Silchar (SKS) and Jirsong Asong (JA) have plans http://syrianownews.com/
to create green belts in community/individual lands in consultation with the community. Caritas Samaritans, the active volunteer force of Caritas India is zealously working to serve the Mother Nature with JHDS in celebration. Jirsong Asong also announced to run the plantation drive every Friday in 14 villages of Karbi Anglong District of Assam.

Garo Hills partner, BAKDIL in Meghalaya has made a grand announcement of planting 1 million fruit trees with the help of self-help groups. Fr Sunny Mavelil, Director of BAKDIL shared with media that the mass plantation drive will be done in different parts of Garo hills through SHGs and community so the villagers can benefit from these trees.

Planting is not enough; the survival of the plant is important. “The community took the responsibility to protect the plants with a bamboo fence to protect from grazing and watering of plants regularly. We have provided the awareness to ensure the survival of these planted saplings. Caritas India is monitoring the progress of these saplings through partners”, informed Prabal Sen, State Officer of Northeast Region.