For this initiative, all 136 panchayats of 11 blocks of Buxar district were targeted to rejuvenate the local environment and foster community involvement. This initiative is being implemented through a series of well-coordinated schemes, involving MGNREGA, Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission and others with the coordination of school students, local communities, and Jeevika Didis, among others.
In schools, environmental education programs are integrated into the curriculum to raise awareness among students about the importance of afforestation. School-based tree planting drives are organised, where students actively participate in planting and nurturing seedlings within school premises and designated community areas. These activities not only instil a sense of responsibility towards the environment in young minds but also create green spaces that enhance the local landscape. In Swacchta Hi Sewa Campaign, District Ganga Committee of Buxar organised special campaign in colleges and schools to reiterate key responsibility of youths in plantation drives. In MV College, which is a prominent College in the urban area of Buxar, many Officers interacted with students and discussed the importance of afforestation. National Mission for Clean Ganga collaborated with youths associated with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan for an awareness drive to keep Buxar green. They took an oath to plant a sapling. In these campaigns ward councillors, media personnel and mother people representatives take part to make these campaigns more successful.
In Rajpur, Chausa Chaugain, Brahmpur and Chakki blocks, plants were distributed in 165 schools by collaboration between Ganga Samiti and the Forest Department. In 159 Middle and High Schools of Buxar, Youth and Eco clubs are functional. In a year, they organise awareness campaigns for neighbourhood on Republic Day, Independence day, National Youth Day etc. They organise debate, quiz and cultural events by engaging with family and community. Students came with placards written with their name and roll numbers. They fixed these placards beside their adopted plants and pledged to take care of them. So, it was not a one-time drive, innovation was at the stage of making this drive regular and sustainable. It is ensured that periodic Meetings of Van Poshakh, teachers-students, Jeevika Didis are held.
Local communities are at the heart of this afforestation effort. With the contribution of Mukhiya, Sarpanch and other local bodies, village panchayats are engaged through participatory planning sessions to identify suitable lands for afforestation and select appropriate tree species that are native and beneficial to the local ecosystem and people. The involvement of local farmers and landowners ensures that the planted trees are maintained and protected. Training sessions on sustainable agricultural practices and the benefits of agroforestry are conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, to encourage the integration of trees into farming systems, thereby enhancing both environmental and economic resilience.
Jeevika Didis, women's self-help groups (SHGs), play a pivotal role in this initiative. Leveraging their strong community networks, Jeevika Didis lead village-level campaigns to mobilise residents, particularly women, to participate in tree planting and care activities. These SHGs are also provided with training on nursery management, enabling them to produce and supply quality saplings for the afforestation efforts. The active involvement of women not only ensures the success of the project but also empowers them economically and socially, as they take on leadership roles within their communities.
The district administration supports these efforts through various government schemes and programs, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and through the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department. These schemes provided financial and technical assistance for large-scale tree planting activities, creating employment opportunities and ensuring the sustainability of the project. District Magistrate of Buxar spearheaded plantation drives along Dalsagar, Hethua, Pokharahan and Bijhaura panchayat etc. by planting many saplings. Additionally, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are put in place to track the progress and impact of the afforestation efforts, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement. Other senior district-level and block level officers took part in plantation drives in different parts of subdivisions and blocks. They all helped in spreading the message of sustainability of plants. Hence, by leveraging the collective efforts of students, local communities, and Jeevika Didis, the Buxar district aims to transform its panchayats into thriving green zones. This comprehensive intervention not only addresses environmental degradation but also fosters a culture of sustainability and community stewardship. "Intensive Afforestation for a Sustainable Future" serves as a model for grassroots environmental action, demonstrating how collaborative efforts can lead to significant ecological and socio-economic benefits.
"Intensive Afforestation for a Sustainable Future" is an ambitious environmental initiative aimed at addressing the escalating impacts of deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss. In Bihar, Buxar district faced severe challenges due to extreme heat wave conditions, with temperatures soaring to 47-48°C, slightly higher than the previous year. This drastic rise has impacted daily life and health of common people through heat waves. It was analysed that in earlier plantation drives a considerable number of saplings did not develop into trees, due to lack of proper maintenance and regular monitoring. So, negligence towards plants after investing resources, energy and time in plantation drives led to limited effectiveness. It was a major challenge before district administration to make a sustained plantation where saplings complete their life cycles and grow as trees. Hence, now in already ongoing plantation and afforestation schemes, an element of attachment with plants is required to be added. That is why, collaboration of different plantation schemes along with active participation of people in plantation drives had to be ensured.
The initiative focuses on the sustainability of large-scale planting of native and resilient tree species on degraded land, along different Pokhar banks, in schools, hospital premises, etc. to reclaim degraded land as well as to improve green cover in Buxar. This initiative also aims to rejuvenate ecosystems and promote sustainable land management practices by engaging local communities, school students, Jeevika didi’s, public representatives and others by executing different governmental schemes i.e., MGNREGA, Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission, National Mission for Clean Ganga, National Rural Livelihood Mission etc. to foster a collaborative approach towards intensive afforestation. It emphasises the importance of biodiversity, soil conservation, and water management as key elements in creating resilient landscapes. The objective is to engage local communities in the afforestation process. This initiative provides employment opportunities, promotes sustainable agricultural practices, and empowers communities to take ownership of their local environment. Through educational campaigns and community involvement, the initiative seeks to raise awareness about the importance of afforestation and environmental conservation. It aims to inspire individuals and organisations to actively participate in and support afforestation efforts. The initiative emphasises on the importance of planting a variety of tree species to support diverse habitats. This approach helps in preserving and enhancing local biodiversity, ensuring the survival of various plant and animal species i.e., Black-buck, etc. Additionally, it improves the quality of air in urban areas, provides people with home grown chemical-less fruits and improves groundwater table. The initiative demands a multi-faceted approach to ensure broad participation and true efforts to maximise survival of these plants.
So, all of the above-mentioned objectives can only be ensured only if the plants develop into trees and sustain its growth. Therefore, the whole district administration focused on involving people who will adopt these plants and ensure its development.
The "Intensive Afforestation for a Sustainable Future" initiative in the Buxar district has yielded significant positive outcomes, transformed the local environment, and strengthened community bonds. Through the active participation of school students, local communities, and Jeevika Didis, the project successfully planted Five lakhs and fifteen thousand trees across various panchayats, restoring degraded lands and creating new green spaces. This large-scale afforestation effort has enhanced local biodiversity, improved soil health, and increased water retention, contributing to greater climate resilience in the district.
A new trend has been established where there is regular meeting of students-teachers, Jeevika Didis and Van Poshaks where they assess the survivability of plants that have been planted. They plan a strategy to improve the probability of sustainable growth. Additionally, the initiative has empowered local women and fostered environmental stewardship among youth, creating a lasting cultural shift towards sustainability. The involvement of Jeevika Didis in nursery management and tree care has provided economic opportunities for women, boosting their income and leadership roles. Overall, the initiative has contributed to environmental restoration and strengthened community cohesion, making Buxar a model for sustainable rural development.
The innovation behind Buxar district adopting this initiative lies in constant monitoring of maintenance of plants for its sustainable growth. The focus was on the sustainability of the lifespan of a plant from saplings to a full grown tree. District Magistrate formed a team of Senior officers and made them in-charge of different blocks for plantation drives. This team headed by District Magistrate planted many saplings at various public spaces and promoted public participation for maintenance and care of growing saplings. This team focused on sending an important message among people about the criticality of supporting plants to gain a certain height and strength that would help them to self-sustain. Fencing using bamboo or metal gavian or barbed wire was ensured where it was possible. Another innovation was to make intensive afforestation a community-centric approach, integrating local schools students, Jeevika Didis, and panchayats to drive large-scale tree planting efforts. By combining environmental education with hands-on involvement, the initiative leverages local knowledge and social networks, particularly through women-led SHGs, and school children to ensure sustainable tree care and economic empowerment. Additionally, the use of government schemes like MGNREGA and Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission for funding and monitoring ensures accountability and long-term success, making it a replicable model for other regions.
