Early Times Report LEH, June 5: On the occasion of World Environment Day 2026, Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, launched a mass plantation drive under the Indus River Green Corridor Initiative on land donated by Thiksey Monastery. The plantation drive was organised in line with this year's World Environment Day theme: "Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future." On this occasion, 5000 saplings of species which included Salix (Willow), Poplar, Robinia, Russian Olive, Cherry, Apple, Apricot, Pear, Black Currant, Chinar and Kashmiri Juniper were planted over 7.50 hectares of land provided by Thiksey Monastery. The initiative aims at enhancing Ladakh's green cover, strengthening ecological resilience and promoting sustainable development in the fragile high-altitude ecosystem of the region. A large number of people, including ITBP personnel, NCC cadets, monks of Thiksey Monastery and students of Druk Padma Karpo School and Mahabodhi Residential School, had assembled to carry out the plantation drive. A major highlight of the programme was the establishment of a High-Altitude Experimental Plantation Plot spread over approximately 0.12 hectares (about 1,400 sq. ft.) to study the adaptability and growth performance of selected tropical and subtropical species under Ladakh's unique climatic conditions. |