In a vibrant display of environmental commitment, the 76th Van Mahotsav kicked off in Rangat with a mass plantation drive at Government Secondary School, Nimbutala. The event, held under the campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, brought together nearly 150 participants including students, teachers, PRI members, and local administrative heads, all joining hands in a show of community-driven conservation.
Spearheaded by the Middle Andaman Forest Division, the initiative was not merely a ceremonial gesture but a call to action amid increasing concern over deforestation and ecological degradation. Participants took part in planting indigenous saplings across the school premises, reinforcing the festival’s core message: every individual can contribute to forest preservation.
Adding a cultural dimension to the ecological cause, the event also featured performances that resonated with the theme of forest conservation. Students presented a welcome song, setting a warm tone, while the staff and workers of Bakultala Range delivered a thought-provoking mime act. The performance illustrated the critical role forests play in maintaining biodiversity and highlighted the consequences of unchecked deforestation, from soil erosion and water scarcity to habitat destruction.
During the event, the Divisional Forest Officer delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of balancing human activity with nature preservation. He urged the audience to think beyond symbolic gestures and adopt sustainable habits in their daily lives. The officer stressed that while planting a tree is commendable, nurturing it and protecting forest ecosystems are long-term responsibilities that demand continuous public involvement.
Van Mahotsav, first celebrated in 1950, continues to hold relevance as India grapples with deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the climate crisis. In the context of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the natural ecosystem is both fragile and vital to the livelihoods of its inhabitants, tree plantation drives take on an added layer of urgency. Officials hope that through awareness-building events like this, younger generations will internalize the value of conservation and carry forward the message.
This year’s edition has been integrated into the broader push by the Andaman & Nicobar Forest Department to localize climate action. The campaign aims to educate citizens, promote native flora, and empower communities to take stewardship of public and institutional spaces. As part of this effort, similar events are expected to be held throughout the month in schools, village panchayats, and forest outposts across the islands.
