'Cities for Forests’ campaign launched in Trivandrum

Aug. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- The national campaign of the global conservation organization WWF as part of the commemoration of 2011 being the UN International Year of Forests titled ‘Cities for Forests’ was launched in Thiruvananthapuram today in the Museum and Zoo Compound with various interactive programmes the whole day through engaging with various sections of the society.

The days programme started with the informal launch of the campaign in the M&Z Compound mainly engaging the early morning walkers. Cutouts in the shape of lungs to denote the service of trees as oxygen providers, stickers, posters etc were given to the walkers. Fun competitions were arranged including Jumble of Tree names, Crossword related to trees, Find the hidden trees, State trees, Stars and trees etc. Winners of the competitions were given away the campaign t-shirt and caps as prizes. Many bureaucrats and high ranking officers of Thiruvananthapuram who are early morning walkers interacted with the organizers. They expressed their highest level of appreciation for this noble effort.

The formal inauguration of the campaign was done in the event organized in the M&Z Compound itself in the evening at 4pm by the unveiling of the ‘Five hoardings on Values of Trees’ by Dr.R.V.Varma, Chairman, Kerala State Biodiversity Board in a very simple function attended by the organizers, campaign volunteers, school students and the general public. Speaking to the students, Dr. Varma encouraged them to protect the existing trees and plant more trees for the healthy future of both the City as well as its Citizens. Mr. Renjan Mathew Varghese, State Director also spoke on the occasion about the campaign and its relevance. The five hoardings include the message as trees saying ‘I can give you Oxygen/ Water/ Food/ Medicinal Plants/ Wood…. etc if you let me live’. The students broke up into several groups and some interacted with the public with regard to the fun competitions, some gave away the publicity materials like stickers and posters, some put up the placards and cutouts etc.

Now the campaign will continue in Thiruvananthapuram for more than a month. Schools in Thiruvananthapuram City can take part in the campaign by registering and encouraging their students to observe trees, visit forests and understand their values, functions and services and contribute in the form of stories, poems, songs, posters, photos, dramas etc onto the website citiesforforests.in. The evaluation and concluding programme will be organized in the first week of October i.e. Wildlife Week. The School Champion of the 2011 UN International Year of Forests will be declared then and individual and institutional prizes will be given away.
For details: www.citiesforforests.in

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WWF-India is one of the largest conservation organisation engaged in wildlife and nature conservation in the country.