tEA set to hold Run to Reforest 2.0 on Oct. 26

DIMAPUR — The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) is all set to organise its second edition of Run to Reforest 2.0, popularly known as R2 Run 2.0, on October 26 at High School Junction in Kohima from 6 am.

The participants will run via the Secretariat route and culminate at the Indira Gandhi Stadium covering approximately 9 kilometres.

This was announced by the Entrepreneurs Associates during a press conference on October 10 held at its main office in Kohima. An update from tEA stated that the R2 Run is a crucial component of its flagship programme ‘Trees for Wealth (TfW),’ which was launched on November 22, 2019.

The TFW movement aims to plant 1 billion fruit trees and 2 billion non-fruit trees (trees of economic value) by 2050. It informed that tEA has currently planted 7.5 lakh fruit trees and 16 lakh non-fruit trees across Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

tEA executive director, Neikule Doulo, apprised on the significance of R2 Run. According to her, the R2 Run is an event that holds meaning for everyone concerned about the climate and environment. She added that the event aims to create awareness about environment through increased community participation in the form of widespread tree plantation in the state and across the NE region.

tEA research and development lead, Tongtimenla Jamir, shed light on how Nagaland has lost 235 sq. km of forest cover within the timeline of 2019 to 2021. She pointed out that Nagaland only has 73.90% of forest cover, which is among the lowest across the northeastern states.

She concluded by highlighting the relevance of the ‘Trees for Wealth’ movement in combating the climate crisis today.

It was informed that this year's event would feature 14 categories, divided into seven divisions for both male and female participants.

The R2 Run 2.0 would have two course formats. The first four categories would start at High School Junction and finish at IG Stadium, while the remaining three categories would take place exclusively on the IG Stadium track.

An interesting feature of the second edition is the inclusion of the ‘Wheelchair category’ to make it more inclusive. There will also be on-spot registration for the runners in the morning of October 26 before the run.

Upon completion of all categories, participants would receive participation certificates during the prize distribution ceremony to be held at Indira Gandhi Stadium.