“Plant and Nurture Trees for a Green and Healthy Environment”

The day was found in the vision of benevolent leader, His Majesty, the great fourth, in the year 1979. Since 1985, it is being observed on 2nd June which is the Coronation Day of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. The College of Natural Resources (CNR) has joined forest division in Punakha to celebrate the “Social Forestry Day”. The day was celebrated with the theme, “Plant and Nurture Trees for a Green and Healthy Environment.” The day also marked celebration of Birth of our gracious Royal Highness, The Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck. The Royal Government of Bhutan ensured doing their part in fulfilling the World Earth Day theme to plant 7.8 billion trees by 2020.

It is with His Majesty’s far-sightedness that we reap a treasure today, the name of being carbon neutral country, in fact carbon negative is known to the world. The promise in COP21 to remain carbon neutral would not have been possible without our constitution having to say, “60% of our country must be forested in all time to come.” The deeply rooted culture, our love towards nature, and our belief and faith on nature approved to be promised country bearing fame of being a world’s carbon negative country. In fact, the promise does not remain idle; the Royal Government of Bhutan works beyond the promise.

The day was celebrated by planting trees at Chimi Lhakhang and was graced by Dasho Dzongda of Punakha Dzongkhag.  Staff of CNR, FD and Aman Kora took active part of the day. The Forest Division of Punakha Dzongkhag, Aman Kora resort, Desup and College of Natural Resources have participated there. The presence of Dasho Gubda of Tencholing Military Training Centre, Derector General of CNR and Chief of Forest Division gave live to the day. We took half a day to complete the plantation.

Following are some of the recent activities that took place and some of which are still ongoing, were:

·     Planting of 108 tree seedlings of five significant species a day after the birth of HRH Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck on 6 February 2016

·     Planting of 108,000 tree seedlings by citizens around the country in all 20 Dzongkhags and 205 geogs on 6 March 2016

·     Planting of 400 tree seedlings at Thanzona, Punakha on the occasion of the Naming Ceremony of HRH The Gyalsey and Zhabdrung Kuchhoe, by His Majesty The King, His Holiness The Je Khenpo and the Zhung Dratshang

·     About 1500 Desuups will have planted more than 50,000 seedlings around the country by 2 June 2016 (4500 seedlings in Thimphu)

·     About 50,000 seedlings will be planted by a 100 women in 1 hour at Takila, Lhuenste in an attempt to break last year’s Guinness World Record set by a 100 men.

The seedlings we are planting today will contribute to meeting the sacred provisions of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan of maintaining 60% forest cover for all time to come and ensuring an environment friendly, healthier and safer future for all our citizens. It ensures carbon sink to the industrial world outside. The Sustainable Development Goal15 says: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Therefore, the “Life on land” is possible only with reforestation and afforestation not deforestation.  

Thank you!