School children do their bit for city’s green lungs

Although it is a small step, it will go a long way in the conservation of Gurgaon’s fragile ecology.

Although it is a small step, it will go a long way in the conservation of Gurgaon’s fragile ecology.

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Students of The American Embassy School, New Delhi, accompanied by their parents and members of the city-based NGO Utthaan, planted 1,500 saplings at Aravali Bio-diversity Park on Sunday.

Utthaan has been running a campaign — Vriksha Mitra.

Riikka Makela, a national who came with her two children Roope, 10 and Rasmus, 7, said, “My children love to climb on trees. My children were enthusiastic about the programme. I am glad to contribute our bit for the cause.”

An expat child, Kohei Mori, 6, from , said, “Summers are very hot here. Teacher told us if we plant trees, they would give us shade and summers wouldn’t be that hot. So I decided to come here.”

Madan Mohan, president of Utthaan, said, “Earlier, we had planted some saplings here. I regularly come here and water them. Planting a sapling is not enough, we have to nurture it also.”

Forest department officials expressed happiness over the project. Depleting green cover has been a cause of concern for residents.