Minister for Forests Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan would preside over the function. Department of Climate Change and Climate Change Study Centre, Kottayam, are jointly organising the event.

Shashi Tharoor, K Muraleedharan MLA, Mayor K Chandrika, Councillor Leelamma Isaac, KSHEC vice-chairman T P Sreenivasan, KSCSTE executive vice-president V N Rajasekharan Pillai and PCCF, Social Forestry, B S Kori would attend.

Poet Sugathakumari would be the chief guest.

The proposed PEAP is an initiative of the State Government to be implemented jointly by the Department of Environment, Forest Department, Department of Panchayat, Department of Education, Biodiversity Board, Kudumbashree and Janasree missions, various citizens networks and civil society organisations. PEAP would be coordinated by the Environment Minister.

The main objectives of PEAP are Green Kerala (‘Haritha Keralam’) and a tree for every person.

The emphasis is on increasing green cover through community based and participatory process of planning and nurturing trees.

As part of the PEAP, a systematic plan is being developed at the panchayat-level and municipality to take necessary steps to protect rivers, streams and ponds. The programme envisages to reduce dumping of wastes in public places such as parks, beaches etc.

As part of PEAP, every year, the government will produce an annual report on state’s environment.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests would also institute an award for the best three schools and three colleges involved in the implementation of PEAP.

Environment Advisory Council (EAC) will provide periodic inputs to develop appropriate strategies to effectively implement the plan.