Ukhrul: The Ukhrul Forest Division has unleashed an aggressive, district-wide ecological campaign to kick off the week-long 77th Van Mahotsava festival, aiming to plant a staggering 210,000 saplings across the District. Building on the momentum of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative – which recently added 247,000 seedlings to the district – this massive mobilization represents the next step in the region’s green campaign. Divisional Forest Officer Laishram Gitla, IFS, stated that the initiative is a long-term effort to restore degraded landscapes, conserve water, and build climate resilience through active community participation.
The flagship launch took place at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, where Deputy Commissioner Uppuluri Chaitanya (IAS), Divisional Forest Officer Laishram Gitla (IFS), Superintendent of Police Abhinav (IPS), ADC CEO David Kashungnao (MCS), SDO Chingai Roland Ningshen (MCS), SDO Jessami Duna Duo (MCS), ZEO Sunita Jajo and other DLOs teamed up with the Tungrei Youth Organisation, Headmistress Sr. Mariet SABS, and local students to transform the campus into a primary planting zone.
Concurrently, a vital community-driven parallel drive rolled out at Shokvao – a village adopted under the COSFOM (Community-based Sustainable Forest Management for Water Resources) project. Sanajaoba Khuraijam (IFS), Conservator & Chief Operating Officer of COSFOM joined Village Headman Reimi Makang, the local Water Resource Conservation Group, and NGOs ASOC and ENFOGAL to inspect new afforestation sites and rural infrastructure. A major tech highlight of the Shokvao event was the installation of camera trap inside the Forest Closure Area. DFO Gitla announced that this wildlife-monitoring tech will soon expand across all 23 COSFOM project villages to secure habitats and track biodiversity.
At the same time, the reforestation drive expanded across multiple ranges in the district. Local villagers, students, and school staff united with forest personnel for massive community planting events across several locations, including Awang Kasom, Khalhang Khullen, the Jessami Range, and Wahong Village.
​Looking ahead, the district’s initial planting outreach will be significantly expanded through an ongoing, widespread free-distribution pipeline. By delivering saplings directly to homesteads and community lands, the initiative aims to permanently increase Ukhrul’s total canopy cover.
