Ukhrul Celebrates International Day of Forests

Ukhrul, Mar 19: Ukhrul Forest Division celebrates International Day of Forests 2025 on the theme “Forests and Food.”

In a run-up to the International Day of Forests 2025 on 21st March 2025, Ukhrul District celebrated this global event with a strong focus on the theme “Forests and Food.” The two-day event highlighted the invaluable contribution of forests to food security, nutrition, and the livelihoods of many people, especially the forest-dependent communities.

The event was marked by a series of activities organized by the Divisional Forest Officer, Ukhrul Forest Division at the District level. On 18 March 2025, an interactive session on the theme of the Celebration, ‘Forest and Foods’ was held at KTL Excel Higher Secondary School and was attended by Divisional Forest Officer, Ukhrul, Laishram Gitla, and other staff of the Ukhrul Forest Division. She highlighted the crucial role forests play in ensuring food security adding that sustainable forest management is the key to maintaining a balance between development and preservation of vital resources for future generations. Around 800 students of classes 6 to 10 participated in the session.

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Range Forest Officers, Kh. Sanaremba Singh, N. Bikram, K. Siyo, and the staff of Ukhrul Forest Division led the “Plantation Campaign: Be a Tree Owner” along with the students. The participants took a pledge and displayed a banner with the slogan, “No to cutting trees, Yes to planting trees, and yes, I will be a tree owner.” Over 50 horticulture saplings were distributed and planted inside the School Campus of KTL Excel Higher Secondary School. These efforts aim to promote responsibility in each individual to ensure the long-term health of the Ukhrul’s rich natural environment.

Yarmi Kashung, Principal of KTL Excel Higher Secondary School emphasized the need to plant more trees wherever and whenever opportunities come and advocated the students to be stewards of their forests. The program concluded with an action song presented by the students on the theme of the Celebration.

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On 19 March 2025, marking the second day’s observation, “Foot Rally: Run for Forests” was organized by the Ukhrul Forest Division with the participation of Hunphun Ktatamnao Long, students and teachers of Ukhrul Central School. Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, Asish Das (IAS) flagged off the rally from the Mini-Secretariat, Ukhrul. Addressing the gathering, Deputy Commissioner Asish Das emphasized the importance of forests in providing food resources, sustaining livelihoods, and preserving biodiversity.

Speaking at the event, Divisional Forest Officer, Laishram Gitla, stressed that forests provide the most vital things in our life viz. air, water, and food, and contribute significantly to nutrition and well-being, particularly for the indigenous and forest-dependent communities. She urged collective efforts of all to protect and sustainably manage forests. She led the rally with the slogan “No to cutting trees, yes to planting trees, and yes I will be a tree owner”.

Support of the cause was shown by active participation in the program by CEO/ADC Ukhrul, David Kashungnao, ADC/ADM, Polly Makan, SDO Ukhrul, Dinringam Kamei, SDO Jessami, Duna Duo, SDO Chingai, Roland Ningshen, SDO LM Block Ngamreiwung Luithui, ZEO of Ukhrul, Thaimei Badan, Project Officer, DRDA Ukhrul Md. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, General Manager NHIDCL/ Ukhrul and other DLOs. The rally concluded at the DFO/ Ukhrul Office.

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