A statewide plantation campaign of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department was launched on Thursday from the historic Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla, with Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, planting a sapling to mark the occasion.
Calling environmental conservation a shared responsibility, the Chief Justice said protecting forests and nature cannot be left to the government alone. He highlighted the growing impact of climate change and global warming in the Himalayan region and stressed the need for sustainable development that balances progress with ecological preservation.
Expressing concern over the shrinking green cover in Shimla due to rapid urbanisation and tree felling, he said timely action is essential to safeguard the environment for future generations. He also lauded the Forest Department’s efforts and urged greater public participation in plantation and conservation activities.
IIAS Director Prof. Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi said the institute remains committed to environmental stewardship alongside academic excellence and described the plantation campaign as a significant step towards preserving the region’s natural heritage.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Sanjay Sood said the state is implementing major initiatives such as the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, Chief Minister’s Forest Expansion Scheme and Rajiv Gandhi Green Adoption Scheme to expand green cover and rejuvenate degraded land. He informed that plantation activities are planned on over 5,000 hectares, with the goal of increasing Himachal Pradesh’s green cover by around 32 per cent by 2030.
Several High Court judges, senior Forest Department officials, scholars, fellows and staff members of IIAS were present at the event, which underscored the collective commitment towards building a greener and more sustainable Himachal Pradesh.
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