Srinagar, Mar 30: In a landmark step towards ecological restoration and climate resilience in the Western Himalayas, the “One Million Trees for Pir Panjal” initiative was formally inaugurated with remarkable enthusiasm, unity, and a renewed sense of environmental responsibility. 4Led by the School for Rural Development and Environment (SRDE), in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy Alliance (NCA) and supported by the Forest Department, Jammu & Kashmir, the campaign represents far more than a plantation drive—it is a transformative people’s movement dedicated to healing the fragile ecosystems of the Pir Panjal range.
The initiative was officially launched by renowned climate justice activist and Founder of SRDE, Dr. Shaikh Ghulam Rasool, in the presence of distinguished civil society leaders, forest officials, academicians, and international representatives, including IHRO SAARC Director Roshni Bhattarai. The event witnessed vibrant participation from students and scholars of the Faculty of Forestry at SKUAST-K, alongside educators, youth groups, women’s collectives, and local communities—collectively reflecting a powerful and shared commitment to environmental stewardship and climate action.
Marking the beginning of its first phase, a large-scale plantation drive was simultaneously launched in the Shukhnag Forest Range of Pir Panjal Division Budgam. This milestone event signals the operationalization of an ambitious vision to plant one million trees across the Pir Panjal landscape.
