1. Beginnings

2. Aims

3. References

Van Mahotsav is a festival which was started by Kulapati Kanaiyalal Munshi Ji, the Union Minister for Agriculture to create enthusiasm among masses for forest conservation and planting trees. It is now a week-long festival.

'Van' means 'forest' and 'mahotsav' means 'festival'

"Van Mahotsav" is an annual tree-planting movement in India which began in year 1950. The name Van Mahotsav means " FESTIVAL OF FORESTS ". It has gained significant national importance and every year, millions of saplings are planted across India in observation of Van Mahotsav week.

Beginnings

Van Mahotsav is a program which was started by Kulapati Kanhaiyalal Munshi(KM Munshi), the then Indian Union Minister for Agriculture and Food to create enthusiasm among masses for forest conservation and planting trees. It is now a week-long program celebrated on different days in different parts of India, but usually between 1 July to 7 July.^[1] It began after a flourishing tree planting drive which was undertaken in Delhi, in which national leaders participated.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}} The festival was simultaneously celebrated in a number of states in India. Since then, millions of saplings of diverse species have been planted with energetic participation of local people and various agencies like the forest department.^[2] Awareness spread as the chipko movement rose in popularity as a crusade to save mother earth.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}.

Aims

The constant falling of trees in India has been a problem for a long time, and Van Mahotsav is important in creating awareness of the issues.{{cn|date=December 2016}}. According to the forest department, for every tree fallen ten tree saplings should be planted to make up for its loss.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}

As of 2016, tree cover of India (including forests and non-forest areas) was 23.81%. The Government of India had set a target of 33% cover by 2020.^[3] In 2015 the State Government of Assam announced that it intended to plant 25 lakh(2.5 million) trees. It said this would not only benefit the environment, but also have a direct influence on the social-economic development of Assam, which has 70% or its people working in the agricultural sector.^[4]

The festival raises the awareness of trees among people, and highlights the need for planting and tending of trees as one of the best ways to prevent global warming and reduce pollution. Tree planting during the festival serves various purposes, such as providing alternative fuel, increasing production of food resources, creating shelter-belts around fields to increase productivity, providing food for cattle, offering shade and decorative landscapes, reducing drought and helping to prevent soil erosion, etc.^[2] It helps spread awareness about the harm caused by the cutting down of trees, and it is expected that every citizen of India will plant a sapling in the Van Mahotsav week.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}

Planting of trees also serves other purposes like providing alternative fuel options, food for cattle, helps in soil conservation and more than anything offers a natural aesthetic beauty. Planting of trees also helps to avoid soil erosion which may cause floods. Also, planting trees can be extremely effective in slowing down global warming and trees also help in reducing pollution as they make the air cleaner.

People celebrate Van Mahotsava by planting trees or saplings in and near their homes, offices, schools and colleges. Novel promotions like free circulation of trees are also taken up by various organizations and volunteers.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}} In general, native trees are planted as they most readily adapt to local conditions, integrate into eco-systems and have a high survival rate and help support local biodiversity. State Governments and civic bodies supply saplings to schools, colleges and academic institutions, NGOs and welfare organizations for planting trees. July is the onset of the monsoon season in India – a time when tree planting is most likely to be effective.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}

References

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