MANGALDAI, March 23 - Reiterating their commitment to preservation of Nature with the slogan �Sustain Trees, Save India,� the 14 Garhwal Regiment of the Red Horns Division of the Army operating in Darrang and Udalguri districts observed the sixth edition of International Day of Forests at the man-made forest developed by Gethsemane Joint Forest Management Committee near Bhairabkunda along the Indo- Bhutan international border on Thursday.
The Army unit led by its Commanding Officer Colonel Rahul Singh greeted the office-bearers and members of the voluntary environment conservation body in recognition of their yeoman service in conserving and propagating Nature by recreating the said forest in barren hardcrust land.
Speaking on the occasion, Colonel Singh congratulated members of the nature organisation, including its adviser Esmail Daimary, president Prinson Daimary and secretary Binod Goyari for their outstanding achievement in creating a forest encompassing an area of approximately six sq km area in an area which was severely degraded due to alarming deforestation.
�Your sacrifice and spirit is no less valuable than the sacrifice of the Army jawans protecting the country,� Colonel Singh said.
The Army unit after realising the urgent need of voluntary help to sustain the ecology, donated a few implements for nature conservation, including a water pump set.
The function was also attended by nature conservationist and senior journalist Bhargab Kumar Das, local AASU leader Abhijit Kashyap, Army officials, jawans and members of the society, among others.
It may be mentioned here that this made-man forest is home to several lakh trees of more than 34 varieties spread over an area of 550 hectares. The conservationist group has already been formally recognised for its yeoman service over the years by conferring several awards, including Lifetime Achievement Award by Kaziranga Wildlife Society and award from Eastern Himalayan Conservation Society.
