Manipur observes Vana Mahotsav Week

IMPHAL — As part of the 76th Vana Mahotsav Week, Manipur organised tree-planting drives and conservation awareness programmes, urging everyone to contribute to a greener Manipur through the ‘Plant a tree, save trees’ initiative.

The launching programme of the week-long campaign at Gwaltabi Reserve Forest was attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Anurag Bajpai, along with Conservator of Forests (Central Circle), RK Amarjit Singh.

Brand ambassadors of Van Mahotsav 2025 — Miss Shirui Lily 2025 Esme Singh Shaiza and first runner-up Disti Athokpam Devi — also took part in the tree plantation drive, after they were declared as brand ambassadors under the ongoing ‘Save Shirui Lily’ campaign, which seeks to raise awareness and protect the iconic Shirui Lily, the state flower which grows in Ukhrul district.

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This year's plantation drive innovatively utilised recycled plastic bottle tree guards across 14 forest divisions. These guards protect young trees from pests, retain moisture, and may even aid in water collection. Notably, each tree guard is made from around 70-80 plastic bottles.

“Each forest division is planning to use at least 200 tree guards made of recycled plastic bottles this time,” said Divisional Forest Officer Shanngam S of Senapati district. “Like other districts, we’re also targeting to plant at least one lakh tree saplings across Senapati district.”

He disclosed that multiple plantation activities of tree plant will continue on till next week across the district by the beat officers and rangers while mobilising the theme ‘Ek Paudha Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ meaning ‘Plant a tree, honour your mother.’

The Van Mahotsav celebration in Senapati was attended by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Soreiphy Vashum, Deputy Commissioner Mamoni Doley of Senapati and Additional SP ML Kaisungbou, and other district officials.

Most of the forest divisions in the state also observed the ‘Forest Festival’ by planting tree saplings within their jurisdictions.