CHEPS launches drive to promote indigenous trees
BOONI: CHEPS launches drive to promote indigenous trees. Under this initiative, 85 green clubs consisting of schoolchildren across Chitral will collect seeds of indigenous trees and plant them in their schools, homes and any other available space.
The clubs have been formed by Chitral Environment and Heritage Protection Society (CHEPS). Mr Rehmat Ali Jaffar Dost, the chairman of CHEPS, told ChitralToday that for decades alien plants had been brought to Chitral and planted here without any research.
“We have been asking all government and non-government organizations to avoid planting alien trees in Chitral as it would be harmful for the local environment and populace,” he said.
Now, he added, instead of arguing with them we have formed 85 green clubs across Chitral, consisting of students from private schools. The children are encouraged to bring seeds of plants available in their homes or in the neighborhood to plant them in open spaces.
CHEPS has developed nurseries in different areas and is distributing saplings among the citizens and also planting them through its green clubs, he said.
“Today, on Nov 5, we launched the drive from the Nani ECD School in Booni which will continue for three weeks,” Mr Dost said.