Port Blair, June 5: World Environment Day (WED) is observed worldwide on June 5 to encourage awareness and action for environmental protection. The theme for World Environment Day 2024 is "Land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience," highlighting urgent and existential concerns. The current environmental crisis serves as a collective warning we must heed. As part of World Environment Day, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Port Blair celebrated by organizing a mass planting of tree seedlings involving all staff members. A total of 750 tree seedlings, including species such as Albizia lebbeck, Jackfruit, Leucaena leucocephala, Gmelina arborea, Chakurmeni, and Sesbania grandiflora, were planted over an area of 7000 m² on the campus.

All staff members actively participated in this green initiative, aimed at developing a sustainable year-round green fodder production model and restoring the degraded land available on the campus.

Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI on the occasion emphasized the importance of trees in reducing greenhouse gases and aiding in carbon sequestration. He urged staff and their families to plant at least one tree for future generations, supporting both livelihood and environmental sustainability. The institute will continue planting activities throughout June and July, focusing on several multi-purpose tree species.

The program was coordinated by Dr. I. Jaisankar, Senior Scientist and Nodal Officer, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, under the supervision and guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI.