One Million Trees for Pir Panjal launched as civil society move for ecological restoration in J&K

By A Representative 

A large-scale environmental campaign titled “One Million Trees for Pir Panjal” was formally launched in Jammu & Kashmir, marking the beginning of an ambitious afforestation and ecological restoration drive across the Western Himalayas.

Led by the School for Rural Development and Environment in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy Alliance and supported by the Jammu & Kashmir Forest Department, the initiative aims to plant one million trees across the ecologically sensitive Pir Panjal mountain range while fostering community participation in conservation efforts.

The programme was inaugurated by climate justice activist Dr. Shaikh Ghulam Rasool, with participation from civil society representatives, academicians, forest officials, and international delegates, including IHRO SAARC Director Roshni Bhattarai. Students and scholars from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir also joined the launch event along with youth groups, women’s collectives and local residents.

The first phase of the campaign began with a plantation drive in the Shukhnag Forest Range in Budgam district, signalling the operational rollout of the initiative. The drive is being implemented jointly by SRDE, NCA, the Tosamaidan Bachav Front, and the Shukhnag Conservation and Development Foundation, with technical and logistical support from the Forest Department.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Rasool said the campaign goes beyond plantation efforts. “This is not merely about planting trees; it is about healing our mountains. The forests of Pir Panjal sustain water systems, glacier ecology, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Protecting them is essential for securing the future of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said. He added that community participation, particularly of youth, would be central to the initiative’s long-term success.

Organisers highlighted growing ecological concerns in the region, citing unregulated tourism, infrastructure expansion, and unsustainable development practices as major contributors to environmental degradation across the Pir Panjal landscape and the Kashmir Valley. The campaign, they said, seeks to promote sustainable development rooted in ecological balance and community stewardship.

Forest Department officials present at the site provided saplings and technical guidance to ensure scientific plantation practices. The Range Officer of the Sukhnag range commended SRDE’s efforts, noting its continued contribution to research and community-based conservation.

Speaking at the event, SCDF President Molvi Maqbool stressed the ethical and spiritual responsibility of environmental protection, urging community leaders and religious institutions to promote conservation awareness. Prof. Billal Bhat reiterated the organisation’s commitment to sustained ecological campaigns, while Mushtaq Budgam of the Gujjar-Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference expressed support, linking forest conservation to livelihoods and cultural identity.

Peer Sheikh Ghulam Mohideen of the Pir Panjal Conservation Foundation underlined the importance of the initiative for regional water security, while Abiza Maqbool called on young people to take leadership in safeguarding Kashmir’s ecological future.

The event also saw participation from international representatives, including a delegate from Azerbaijan, along with members of the education sector and civil society organisations.

According to organisers, the initiative builds on SRDE’s long-standing work in environmental conservation, including the plantation of over 2.7 lakh trees in the region. The campaign is envisioned as a long-term, scalable model combining scientific approaches with grassroots participation to restore degraded landscapes and enhance climate resilience.

The programme concluded with a joint vote of thanks by organising groups and the Forest Department, which also acknowledged the support of Pir Panjal Divisional Forest Officer Syed Waseem and Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir, Irfan Rasool.

Issuing a broader call to action, organisers urged citizens, youth, educators and community leaders across Jammu & Kashmir to join the movement, emphasising that collective efforts are crucial at a time of rising ecological challenges and increasing climate risks.