KATHMANDU: To promote greenery and prevent soil erosion, the Division Forest Office Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) has initiated a free distribution of over 160,000 saplings from 28 different species to the general public. The distribution is managed through nurseries located in Kawaswoti and Gaindakot.

Chief of the Division Forest Office, Basanta Keshab Adhikari, announced that the saplings, grown in the division nursery at the Division Forest Office Nawalparasi and the sub-division nursery at Gaindakot, are being distributed at no cost for plantation purposes. The varieties include bamboo, tejpat, harare, barre, dhoopi, kapoor, madgostic, ashok, sheetalchini, neem, rukh kathar, amba, tanki, badhar, jamun, kalki, tikma, kimbu, bakaino, pipal, amla, lapsi, chiuri, and bhatmas grass.

The initiative has seen an increase in people collecting saplings for planting, especially with the arrival of the monsoon season following a long drought. A total of 124,000 saplings were prepared in Kawasoti over the past two years, and there is growing interest from the public in planting these trees.

Forest department officials highlight that providing free saplings to private, public, and institutional sectors helps in maintaining environmental balance, enhancing beautification, preventing soil erosion, and providing fodder for animals. The initiative has also attracted schools in the area, which are showing interest in tree-planting activities.

The popularity of this program has extended beyond the district, with an increasing number of people from other areas coming to collect saplings since last year. This reflects the community's growing engagement in environmental conservation efforts.