World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5, to remind humans that they are not alone on this planet. There is a huge biological ecosystem that exists and human beings survive because of that. The pandemic that the world has been dealing with for almost 1.5 years now has shown how disastrous the consequences of ecosystem loss can be. By shrinking the area of natural habitat for animals, we have created ideal conditions for pathogens – like Covid19 – to spread. The fact remains that only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity.
For too long, humans have been exploiting and destroying the planet’s ecosystems. Every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pitch. IHA Foundation has worked extensively in the last few years and have taken up programmes like End Plastic Pollution, Plantation of more than 3.80 Lakh tree all over India, with 33,687 trees in Kolkata, promotion of solar energy use, save water initiative – by changing leaked water taps of the city etc, among others. Last year after the catastrophe of Cyclone Amphan, IHA Foundation with the help and support of Bengal Sub Area, Indian Army planted more than 10,000 trees in the major green belt of area.
To mark the World Environment Day celebrations IHA Foundation under the guidance of its Chairman Satnam Singh Ahluwalia planted more than 100 trees and saplings in the lanes and bylanes of Kolkata. At a time when we are hearing people clamouring for oxygen, it is time to plant more and more trees in our vicinity to save both Mother Earth and humans. The volunteers of IHA Foundation also requested each and every individual to plant one tree in their name. IHA Foundation has also started the plantation of trees which started from Earth Day in April.
Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman IHA Foundation said, “The Earth has revolted, due to the situation we humans have created because of our excesses, but mother earth has created this human pandemic, which has allowed it to recuperate itself, as a result the environment corrected itself when the whole country was in Lockdown, it is now time we maintained our environment and took care of our surroundings, on an individual level. We request all the citizens of our city to come forward and we shall help them to plant a tree in their name”.
“This unprecedented time has stopped us all in our tracks. As each of us ensures that those around us are safe and well, it is this moment that we need to examine our individual and collective relationship with the natural world and how our activities impact the planet.” Further said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman IHA Foundation.
