It’s World Environment Day this Sunday and what better way to celebrate than by planting a sapling! Hosted by Swechha India, a youth-run NGO engaged in environmental, social development and active citizenship, the drive begins at 9 am on Sunday in Gurgaon. Having earlier planted a mini forest in Dwarka, Gurgaon and Faridabad, VimlenduJha from Swechha India, says, “We run a campaign called Monsoon Wooding every year where we plant 5000 trees in different parts of Delhi. It is Swechha’s annual plantation campaign, which was started in 2005. In the last few years, we have planted over 20,000 trees and quite a few urban mini-forests, regenerative food forests etc. in various areas sprawling all over Delhi-NCR. We are launching this year’s plantations this Sunday, June 5, planting approximately 1500 trees in Gurgaon, mostly native and fruit species, having raised money through crowd funding for over 1500 saplings.”

Speaking on the idea behind it, Jha says, “We’ve added hectares of concrete in Delhi-NCR. It’s high time we add some greenery too. We are in an emergency situation in terms of the quality of air and the green cover. Delhi-NCR has lost several hectares of forest cover in the last ten years. We are one of the most polluted cities in the world now. As citizens, we can do our bit by planting trees. Last year we planted a fruit forest in Gurgaon with 1500 fruit trees. We start the plantation project by adding 1500 trees this year. We need as many volunteers as we can get, to assist us in the plantation program along with other event related tasks such as documentation, photography and land preparation .”

Aditya Pant, a volunteer, says, “We’ve chosen to plant a fruit forest. The drive is open for everyone to come and contribute to the environment.” The plantation drive will be held today at 278/16, Civil line road, officers colony,Civil lines, Gurgaon from 9 am to 12 noon. The closest metro station for the event is MG Road metro station on the Yellow Line.