Nepal’s Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri has instructed all subordinate bodies to plant 10 million saplings of different plant species at all local levels during the ongoing monsoon. Monsoons in Nepal generally begin on June 13 and end on September 23. Minister Thakuri directed all forest offices, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Offices, national parks, reservoir areas and local levels to carry out the plantation.

According to the statement issued by the Ministry, to make the plantation campaign effective all subordinate offices must play their part. This Plantation drive will reduce the negative impact on the environment due to the emission of greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide in the last 200 years. Voicing concern over increasing cases of no rain, excessive rain, flood, landslides, drought and avalanches among other natural disasters, he stated that Climate change has started adversely affecting mountains, and human lives, impeding economic development, harming biodiversity and tourism sectors.

The Minister, citing a report related to climate change published in 2004, stated that forests absorb 60 per cent of carbon dioxide emitted in the world. Plantation drive would not only contribute to the expansion of green cover in the forest and in the country, but it would also help mitigate the effects of climate change.

By Sweta Singh (Kathmandu)