tEA organises 3rd edition of Run to Reforest in Kohima

DIMAPUR — The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) hosted the third edition of the Run to Reforest (R2Run), its annual climate advocacy event under the flagship programme, Trees for Wealth (TfW) Movement, on Saturday in Kohima.

Run to Reforest (R2Run) is part of the Entrepreneurs Associates’ Trees for Wealth (TfW) Movement, which operates under the motto “Micro by one, volume by mass”, according to an update.

Launched in November 2019, the programme aims to connect sustainable livelihood solutions and entrepreneurship with climate change mitigation and environmental protection. The movement envisions planting 1 billion fruit trees and 2 billion non-fruit trees by 2050.

The third edition of R2Run featured a marathon run and, for the first time, a penalty shootout competition. The run was flagged off at 6 am from High School Junction, Kohima, with participants covering a route via Secretariat Road and culminating at IG Stadium.

A separate category for participants below 15 years was held within the IG Stadium premises. The previous two editions collectively saw over 900 participants.

The run was flagged off by Neikule Doulo, executive director of tEA, who also shared the goals and objectives of R2Run. Chubazen Longkumer provided a comprehensive briefing on the event guidelines.

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In her keynote address, Doulo expressed gratitude for the continued support of the R2Run initiative and highlighted the TfW Movement’s vision to plant 3 billion trees by 2050. She emphasised the urgent need to address environmental issues and called on every individual to take responsibility for nurturing and transforming the planet.

Doulo reported that tEA has successfully planted 3 million trees to date under the TfW movement, focusing on trees of economic value to provide income for farmers. Communities in Phek district of Nagaland and Manipur have demarcated community land for the TfW initiative, while a model farmland has been established in Peren district.

She stressed that individual initiatives can create stories of hope capable of changing the world and described the movement as one that Nagaland can offer globally, aiming to make the state the fruit hub of India and beyond.

Noting that Nagaland is losing its forest cover at an alarming rate and ranks among the highest in India for forest loss, she urged everyone to leverage the state’s tradition of community landholding to plant trees. She branded all participants as “Reforesters” and called on them to transform degraded farmland into vibrant micro-orchards, thereby transforming Nagaland, Northeast India, and the world.

The prize distribution ceremony for the run was held at IG Stadium. Wede T Mero secured the gold medal in the above-15category, marking his third consecutive win in the R2Run event.

The penalty shootout competition began at 11 am at IG Stadium, with teams participating from across the state. The Pro D FC and Mez and Co. emerged as the winners and runners-up, respectively, receiving cash prizes of INR 30,000 and INR 20,000.

In the 15 years and above male category, Wede T Mero secured the first prize of INR 10,000, followed by Chuchangmeren Imchen, who received INR 8,000. In the female category, Songmo P won the first prize of INR 10,000, while Jemie Y bagged the second prize of INR 8,000.

In the 11–14 years category, Aqhevi Achumi won the first prize of INR 3,000 and Shingyeang Nyakho took the second prize of INR 2,000 in the male category. Among females, Supei claimed the first prize of INR 3,000, and Nyunbeinei Kent received the second prize of INR 2,000.

In the below 10 years category, Renbemo S Jami won the first prize of INR 3,000, and Thejazo Lhoungu came second with INR 2,000 in the male group. In the female group, Hiena took the first prize of INR 3,000, followed by Shanchobeni with INR 2,000.