Harsh Vardhan to launch plantation drive on July 5

NEW DELHI: The Union Environment Ministry will launch tomorrow a month-long drive to plant saplings, with minister Harsh Vardhan urging the states to undertake similar initiatives.

Urging people to become "green ambassadors", Vardhan said native trees, which have a high survival rate, should be planted as they readily adapt to the local climate and integrate into the eco-system.

He added that in order to meet goals set by India under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), initiatives such as plantation drives on a large scale are important.


"Dr Harsh Vardhan urged the people to become 'Green ambassadors' and participate actively in plantation drives during the period of monsoon, in keeping with the spirit of Van Mahotsav," an official statement said.