LEH: The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR), Leh, marked World Environment Day on Thursday with a plantation drive and cleanliness campaign at the Trans-Himalayan Herbal Garden in Phey, underscoring the importance of environmental conservation, ecological awareness and sustainable practices.
The programme was inaugurated by former Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, who planted an apple sapling along with NISR Director as a symbolic gesture promoting environmental responsibility and long-term ecological stewardship.
The event brought together faculty members, students and staff of the institute, who actively participated in plantation and sanitation activities across the herbal garden premises. Organisers said the initiative was aimed at fostering environmental consciousness while encouraging collective action towards maintaining cleaner and greener surroundings.
Following the inauguration, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal was taken on a guided tour of the Trans-Himalayan Herbal Garden, where he was briefed on the conservation and cultivation of a wide range of medicinal and aromatic plant species indigenous to the region. He appreciated the institute’s efforts to preserve Ladakh’s traditional herbal wealth and promote research linked to indigenous medicinal systems.
Participants undertook extensive cleanliness activities within and around the garden and planted saplings as part of efforts to enhance green cover and reinforce the message of sustainable living. The programme also highlighted the role of educational and research institutions in promoting environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation.
Organisers emphasised that environmental protection requires sustained public participation and responsible practices at both individual and institutional levels. The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to contribute towards environmental preservation and support initiatives aimed at safeguarding Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem for future generations.
