TAMENGLONG: Van Mahotsav Week 2026, also known as the “Festival of Forests” or “Festival of Tree Plantation,” commenced today in Tamenglong district, Manipur at Farmlane near the Mini Secretariat in the district headquarters with a series of tree plantation drives and awareness programmes.
This year’s celebration is being observed under the national campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0″ with the slogan “Plant Trees, Save Earth.”Â
The week-long programme will continue till July 7.
The event was organised by the Tamenglong Forest Division, Government of Manipur, in collaboration with the District Administration, Tamenglong, under the theme “A Tree Today, A Thousand Smiles Tomorrow.”
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Speaking at the inaugural function, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Amit Kaler said the Forest Department is focusing on youths and students, describing them as the future ambassadors of environmental conservation.
“We are facing numerous challenges due to deforestation. Landslides and floods are becoming increasingly common, and these are directly linked to the loss of forests,” he said. He appealed to the public to take a pledge to plant at least one tree in the name of their mother as part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign. He also assured that the Forest Department is ready to provide saplings and other necessary assistance to support afforestation and environmental protection efforts.
Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong, L. Angshim Dangshawa, addressed the common misconception that regions like Tamenglong, which are surrounded by forests, do not require additional tree plantation.
He explained that despite the district’s rich forest cover, recurring landslides highlight the need for sustained afforestation. “Landslides occur because trees are no longer able to retain the soil as extensive tree felling continues every year. Trees take 10 to 20 years to mature, so if we do not plant them now, there will be no mature trees in the future to safeguard our environment,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner further noted that India’s National Forest Policy envisions 33 percent forest cover, whereas the country’s current forest cover stands at around 25 percent. Although the northeastern states have relatively better forest cover, he stressed that large-scale plantation efforts remain essential to help achieve the national target.
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Highlighting the importance of forests for ecological balance and human survival, Dangshawa urged the Forest Department to expand its awareness campaigns by reaching out to more educational institutions. He also suggested organising essay writing and painting competitions focused on environmental conservation to encourage greater participation among students.
The inaugural programme was attended by Additional Superintendent of Police Josiah Pamei, SDO Tamenglong D. Meidinbui, Range Forest Officer Joel Gangmei, officials of the 6th Assam Rifles, social worker Rk. Lungsangai, along with students and staff of EMRS, who later participated in a tree plantation drive to mark the commencement of Van Mahotsav Week 2026.
