Media Release

Mangaluru, Mar 23: APD Foundation in collaboration with Karnataka State Forest Department, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) and Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt Ltd (AWHCPL) observed 6th International Day of Forests on March 21 at Tree Park Tannirbavi.

Mahesh Nayak, chief guest, inaugurated the event by planting a sapling along with P Shridhar, range forest officer, Mangaluru, Abdullah A Rehman, Venkateshwara, deputy range officer, and Rekha Sachin, forest guard.

Addressing the gathering chief guest Mahesh Nayak said, “If we look around the city the high-rises stand taller than the trees, thereby taking away the natural beauty of the city. Mangalore, which was once a green city has turned into a concrete city thereby killing the clean and green environment.” He also urged the audience to differentiate between forests and urban greenery. “Forests are huge self sustaining eco systems which need to be conserved,” he said.

Range Forest Officer P Shridhar said, “Forests play a vital role in the economy of the country. Though other countries have been working towards advocating forestry, India’s forest wealth has been decreasing due to senseless cutting of trees. Now it is clear the people and governments have realized the adverse effects of this mass destruction. While we observe a day like this, we should see that we care for trees and discourage cutting them down.”

“This is part of APD Foundation’s plan to celebrate all the eco days of the year. Hence APD Team has decided to promote ‘Trees over Hoardings’ to highlight the need to reverse the trend of trees felled to accommodate the rising number of Hoardings in the city,” said Abdullah A Rehman, CEO and Founder of APD Foundation.

Students from St Aloysius College, SDM and Dayanand Pai Government College enthusiastically participated in various activities. They shared their ideas and expressed their concerns over nature which must not be destroyed for future generations. The debate was won by Vishvajeeth Bopanna, Akash GS and Riya Tomy of St Aloysius College. Preethesh Ray Prabhu and Annmaria Johny of St Aloysius College won the quiz competition. Shrijith R and Abhilash Shenoy of SDM College and Vishvajeeth Bopanna and Lalu Kurian of St Aloysius won first and second prize for poster making respectively. The painting competition was won by Riya Tomy of St. Aloysius and Abhilash Shenoy.