The Forest Department, Khaltse observed World Forestry Day on March 21 by planting conifer plants at Wanla village which comes under the Khaltse forest range.

Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Leh, Adv. Tashi Gyalson virtually launched the afforestation drive. He highlighted the importance of afforestation to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change and rapid modernization. He added that people should be made aware of sustainable environment goals and the organisation of such afforestation drive is the means of achieving those goals.

Sarpanch, Wanla village, Tsewang Rigzin appealed to the villagers to initiate afforestation on all the barren lands, consisting of individual and community lands with the commencement of World Forestry Day.

Forest Range Officer, Khaltse, Namgail Tashi spoke on this year's theme, 'Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption.' Nambardar, Wanla, Skarma Rinchen urged the Forest department to organise such events in the future too for the benefit of the people of Wanla.

The Forest Department also distributed conifer poly-pot plants to all the progressive farmers and interested villagers for planting purposes.