At the 16th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 16) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), India’s Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, spearheaded a plantation drive at the University of Valle in Cali, Colombia. This event was held as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (#Plant4Mother)’ campaign, an initiative that aims to combine environmental conservation with a tribute to mothers. This movement, launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day, has since become a symbol of India’s commitment to sustainable development on a global scale.
On this occasion Kirti Vardhan Singh tweeted: Carrying forward the momentum of #Plant4Mother campaign, planted a sapling in the beautiful country of Colombia with the hope of conserving and promoting our rich biodiversity. As on date, over 900 million saplings have been planted as a part of this campaign, in less than 5 months of its inception.
Colombia, located in the northwest corner of South America, is the continent’s most populous Spanish-speaking country and occupies a geographic area nearly twice the size of France. The country’s diverse landscape stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea and shares borders with Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. As COP 16’s host nation, Colombia provided a fitting backdrop for the campaign, underscoring the global imperative of biodiversity conservation.
The plantation drive witnessed the participation of notable figures, including Vanlalhuma, the Indian Ambassador to Colombia; Ms. Mónica García Solarte, Vice Rector of the University of Valle; and Guillermo Murillo Vargas, the University’s Rector. The event saw enthusiastic involvement from faculty members and students, highlighting the importance of collective action in environmental sustainability.
As a tribute, a sapling was planted at the University in the name of the mother of Tanmay Kumar, Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Additionally, the Rector, Vice Rector, and the University’s Director of International Cooperation each planted a sapling in honor of their mothers, further symbolizing the campaign’s message.
During his visit, Kirti Vardhan Singh engaged with faculty members and students, encouraging them to adopt sustainable practices and play active roles in conservation efforts. Addressing over 30 students and faculty members who participated in the plantation drive, Singh emphasized the importance of youth in driving forward environmental initiatives and the global need for inclusive sustainable practices.
The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ or ‘#Plant4Mother’ campaign was launched by Prime Minister Modi as a heartfelt initiative linking environmental stewardship with a tribute to mothers.
The plantation drive at COP 16 not only underscored India’s dedication to environmental responsibility but also served as a powerful reminder of the global connections between culture, family, and nature. Through the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, India continues to promote environmental conservation while fostering international cooperation, reminding the world of the profound impact of small, collective actions.
