The mango that broke a market
It is peak mango season in India. The Alphonso harvest is at its richest, the Kesar at its most fragrant.
Marking the Global Tiger Day celebrations for this year, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Tuesday, virtually inaugurated plantation drives across the 58 tiger reserves of India.
Speaking at an event at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi, the minister announced that as part of this initiative, each tiger reserve will plant 2,000 saplings of indigenous plant species in degraded areas to promote habitat restoration and strengthen the ecological foundations essential for tiger conservation.
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The campaign also witnessed the launch of forest nurseries at three locations in the Aravalli landscape. These sapling units will serve as a key resource for afforestation using native species and for fostering long-term ecological resilience, Yadav noted.
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A special highlight of the 2025 celebrations was the Eco-Shop Exhibition, featuring eco-shops from different Tiger Reserves across the country. According to the official document by the ministry, the stalls offered a range of community-based, sustainable, and eco-development products from the Western Ghats and Southern landscapes. These products represent a fusion of cultural heritage and ecological responsibility.
The exhibit showcases a sustainable business model that not only empowers local communities and supports forest-dwelling families but also contributes to conservation goals by reducing pressure on tiger habitats and mitigating conflict.
Yadav also emphasised the importance of ecological balance and the need for awareness and sensitisation among the youth regarding nature. He congratulated schools and teachers for sensitising young minds about wildlife conservation and preserving biodiversity.
The Minister called upon the youth to live a life of determination, patience, and humility, and to contribute back to society through conservation efforts under Mission Life: “Let us not forget, true progress lies in maintaining harmony with nature. The most powerful creature, like the tiger, also teaches us humility. That is the essence of ecological balance.”
The day also marked the launch of the ‘Plastic-Free Tiger Reserves’ campaign, aimed at eliminating the use of all single-use plastics within tiger reserves.
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