Balipara Foundation, in collaboration with the Sangti Valley Plantation Committee, organised a large-scale plantation drive in Sangti Valley, Arunachal Pradesh on Monday to commemorate the 91st Birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama.
Bringing together communities, local institutions and government representatives, the initiative celebrated the occasion through collective action towards ecological restoration and environmental stewardship.
The drive witnessed the participation of 110 volunteers, who collectively planted 1,500 saplings comprising native and fruit-bearing species.
The plantation included ecologically significant trees such as Blue Pine, Juniper, and Cherry Blossom, alongside fruit-bearing species including Orange and Pomegranate, selected to strengthen the valley’s ecological resilience while supporting local livelihoods.
With the support of Tata Steel Foundation, Balipara Foundation has planted over 1 lakh saplings across West Kameng as part of its ongoing efforts to restore and strengthen the ecological resilience of the Eastern Himalayas.
The event was graced by the presence of the Zilla Parishad Member (ZPM), Block-level officials, the G.P.C. Sangti, Gaon Burahs, Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members of Sangti, representatives of the R.S.B.F. Sangti, officials from the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department, as well as local youth and students, whose participation reflected the community’s shared commitment to conserving Sangti Valley’s unique natural heritage.
Renowned for its rich biodiversity and scenic Himalayan landscape, Sangti Valley is an ecologically significant region.
The plantation drive aimed to enhance the valley’s natural beauty while contributing to the restoration of its hill ecosystem through the planting of native species and economically valuable fruit trees.
Beyond restoring the landscape, the initiative sought to foster environmental awareness and strengthen community ownership of conservation efforts. By engaging people across generations, the programme reinforced the importance of collective action in safeguarding biodiversity and building resilient ecosystems for the future.
Through collaborations with local communities and institutions, Balipara Foundation continues to advance landscape restoration across the Eastern Himalaya, promoting conservation approaches that integrate ecological restoration, community participation, and sustainable livelihoods.
