Sikkim will create a ‘world record’ when its when its population of 600,000, plant six hundred thousand saplings as part of Sikkim’s Earth Hour: ‘Ten Minutes to Greenery’ slated for July 15. Ten minutes to greenery has been conceived by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and is proposed to be celebrated on a mass scale like people’s movement. The department has aimed for world record by planting six hundred thousand saplings in 10 minutes, said an official statement.

"As the clock ticks 10:30 AM on July 15, 2009, the whole population of Sikkim will commit itself to mother earth. The people will pledge themselves to nature for 10 minutes by planting trees, flowering and non flowering plants," said the statement.This initiative, the department said will also support The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) worldwide tree planting campaign; Plant for the Planet:Billion Tree Campaign.The seedlings equivalent to the population of Sikkim (approx. 600000) would be planted throughout Sikkim. The people of Sikkim, communities, industries, government officials, civil society organizations and religious institutions have been requested to participate on mass scale.

’Ten minutes to greenery‘ is in addition to ongoing program of State Green Mission. The idea, it is informed is to make tree planting as a Sikkimese way of life. The plantation proposed in every nook and corner of Sikkim has species like oak, rhododendron, champ and other native wild fruit varieties. Incidentally the Forest Department is also celebrating 100 years of Forestry in Sikkim this year, for which the department has made elaborate arrangements to make this programme a success. The seedlings would be arranged by the Forest Department at strategic locations from where they can be collected for plantation in nearby areas. The people can find the location and availability of seedlings from the concerned Range Officer of the area and would be carried out at Gram Panchayat levels, Zilla Panchayat, block levels, constituencies and district levels. Everybody is requested to come and plant trees on this auspicious day to invoke the blessings of Rain God and seek personal prosperity.

The Chief Minister will plant at the saplings at the NA and Bhanu Path bifurcation while Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh will plant saplings at the Himalayan Zoological Park at Bulbuley.

For more information,please go to:Voice of Sikkim

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