Sikkim has launched an ambitious afforestation initiative to plant one million Himalayan oak trees by 2047, with the objective of strengthening ecological security, conserving biodiversity and ensuring long-term water sustainability across the Himalayan state.
The initiative, titled 'Mission: Million Oak Trees by 2047', was launched during the Sikkim Paryavaran Parva 2026 programme organised by the Forest and Environment Department at the Lagyap Reserve Forest along J.N. Road.
The campaign aims to restore native Himalayan oak forests, which play a crucial role in groundwater recharge, soil conservation, carbon sequestration and sustaining the state's fragile mountain ecosystem.
The launch was marked by the planting of the first oak sapling, the release of the Oak Forest Restoration Manual, and the flagging off of a safari vehicle for the Barsey Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary along with nine forest patrol vehicles to strengthen conservation efforts.
The initiative seeks to encourage participation from government departments, educational institutions, local bodies, non-governmental organisations and local communities to make afforestation a people's movement.
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Officials said the programme comes at a time when Himalayan ecosystems are increasingly facing challenges from climate change, deforestation and declining water resources. As part of the mission, plantation drives will be undertaken on suitable government land, while community participation will also be encouraged through local greening initiatives.
According to official data, forests cover 47.33 per cent of Sikkim's geographical area, making it one of India's greenest states. The government aims not only to preserve this forest cover but also to improve the health and density of native forests through scientific restoration and long-term monitoring.
The programme also emphasises better maintenance of roadside plantations, regular monitoring of survival rates of saplings and protection of forest land from fresh encroachments.
During the event, the Sikkim Forest Training Institute at Bulbuley was also inaugurated under the JICA-assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project.
The institute will serve as the state's premier centre for training, research and capacity building in forestry, biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management. It is expected to strengthen the skills of frontline forest personnel while promoting scientific forest management practices.
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