GANGTOK — Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, greeted Sikkim’s people on the occasion of Sikkim Paryavaran Parva 2026 and urged citizens to join hands in protecting the State’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem through active conservation and sustainable living.
Tamang said the festival celebrates Sikkim’s deep bond with nature and reaffirms its identity as the Green State of India, where environmental protection and development are pursued together. He framed the occasion as a reminder of the state’s responsibility to preserve its biodiversity for future generations.
Highlighting Sikkim’s environmental record, the Chief Minister said the State has 47.33% forest cover, with more than 82% of its geographical area under forest administration and 30.77% of land within the Protected Area Network — figures he said underscore Sikkim’s status as one of India’s biodiversity-rich Himalayan states. He added that the State has been recognised nationally as the Best Performing Small State in Environment and as the Best State for implementing the Environment Education Programme.
Tamang pointed to several pioneering initiatives. Sikkim introduced a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme in 2022 to financially reward conservation actions, and in 2023 launched the flagship Mero Rukh Mero Santati programme, which commits to planting 108 trees for every newborn. Under the Sikkim Sishu Samriddhi Yojana, eligible children also receive a fixed deposit of Rs. 10,800, he said.
He also highlighted the ‘Mero Bato, Mero Bot’ initiative to develop green corridors along roadsides. Referring to recent milestones, Tamang noted that the Khecheopalri Wetland was designated as Sikkim’s first Ramsar site in 2025 and that the State received the Sanctuary Asia Award for sustainable wildlife tourism.
On-the-ground efforts, he said, include provision of roof rainwater-harvesting structures to 457 beneficiaries, plantations across thousands of hectares, rejuvenation of 63 springs, and promotion of sustainable agriculture through watershed development and bench terracing.
“While these achievements make us proud, climate change continues to pose serious challenges to our fragile Himalayan ecosystems. Let us therefore strengthen afforestation, conserve water, reduce pollution, adopt sustainable lifestyles, and inspire future generations to protect nature,” the Chief Minister said.
Tamang outlined a programme of activities for Sikkim Paryavaran Parva 2026 — including plantation drives, seedling distribution, cleanliness campaigns, a Greenathon, quizzes, essay competitions, conferences and awareness events — and urged youth, students and local communities to participate as ambassadors of conservation. “Together, let us continue building a greener, cleaner, climate-resilient, and prosperous Sikkim for generations to come,” he concluded.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/sikkim-paryavaran-parva-celebrates-states-deep-bond-with-nature-cm
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