240,000 trees planted to mark 9-year-old Indian climate activist’s birthday

[Oct. 5, 2020: EuroNews]

On the 2nd October, climate activist Licypriya Kangujam celebrated her ninth birthday.

But rather than receive well wishes on social media, she posted a call out asking her 93k strong following to plant one tree each - in honour of her birthday.

Thousands of people responded and so far over 240,000 trees have been planted in India and across the world. Children in Lucknow, Mumbai and communities in the state where Licypriya was born, Manipur were the first to take part.

Indian environmental organisation, the Sustainable Green Initiative Foundation, added to the total by planting 200,000 fruit trees in her name.

“We chose to plant fruit trees because fruit trees can change lives, especially poor farmers, by supporting their livelihoods with additional income by selling those fruits after they grow up,” explains 12 year old climate activist Aarav Seth from Uttar Pradesh where the trees were planted.

He adds that initiatives like this are also fighting poverty and hunger as well as helping the environment.

Young people in the United Arab Emirates joined in too, planting 15,000 trees for the young climate activist’s birthday under an initiative called “Plant a Legacy”.

“I especially thanks to all the children, their parents and people of age groups and all the schools, local clubs and organizations who came out to plant trees on my birthday to bring a change in this world,” says Licypriya.

“Such efforts give a great message to our society by creating environmental consciousness and the feelings of living together with nature without harming them.”

This Brighter Side of News post courtesy of EuroNews.

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