World Environment Day was observed in different places of Surokshit Shaishav Project areas in West Bengal on the theme set by United Nations ‘Reimagine, Recreate. Restore’ and its focal point is ecosystem restoration. UN defines Ecosystem restoration as preventing, halting, and reversing this damage- to go from exploiting nature to healing it.

Child leaders of West Bengal across the six districts celebrated World Environment Day raising awareness on issues and concerns causing environmental degradation such as plastic pollution, degradation of forest covers, cutting of trees, landslides, increase sea levels, increase in temperature, improper food habits, and consumptions and now more visible, medical waste (use and throw of mask).

Last year, the Child Club members celebrated “Ecosystem Restoration” by adopting a wasteland and named it ‘Titanic View Point’.  This year on 5th June 21, Children in collaboration with Gram Panchayat of Nim, Tea Garden manager, CBO, and Vigilance committee members fenced the wasteland and planted 40 saplings.

“I am happy to see children’s commitment towards environment conservation. Trees help us to survive by producing oxygen. Many people are dying today as they are not getting oxygen.  But trees are the natural source of oxygen.  Hence, we must plant more trees”, shared Upper Fagu Tea Garden Manager Shri. Rana Ganguli.

Children Club members in Siliguri through their small act of planting trees, drawing, and planting flowers in small pots made out of recycled plastic bottles depicted the message to give love and care to the environment. Likewise, Children’s club members of Nagari Tea Estate in Darjeeling invited BDO of Sukhia Pokhari block, the officer in charge of Sukhia police station, inspector in charge of police post of Nagari, and conducted plantation drive.“I feel proud to be part of this plantation drive conducted by Children. It is inspiring to see these young child leaders working towards environment restoration”, shared BDO of Sukhia Pokhari Shri Samirual Islam.

One of the Child Club Ekta CC Club Tetula, Siliguri Member Ramesh Kumar Sah who planted 60 saplings along with his friends emphasized planting trees is important and necessary if we are to take care of our mother earth.

Miss Ruth Mukhia, President of Pudung Children club, Kalimpong expressed that, “If we want a protective earth, we must make efforts to make our world clean and green by planting trees”.

200 saplings were planted by children in Uttar Dinajpur along with health care workers and CBO members.

Ecosystem restoration can take many forms: Growing trees, greening our surroundings, rewilding gardens, and many other initiatives. As the saying goes, “Take care of the Earth and she will take care of you”, the Child Leaders are setting an example and inspiring us all by taking steps towards conservation of the environment.