District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar (fifth left) in a greening drive at Kittampalayam near Coimbatore on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Various awareness activities and greening drives marked the observation of the World Environment Day in Coimbatore on Thursday.

The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB), Coimbatore, organised a series of awareness campaigns, lectures, cleanliness drives and competitions on the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ from May 22 to June 5. An eco-friendly banner promoting the theme ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’ was installed at the Forest Campus at R.S. Puram to spread awareness.

A release from IFGTB stated that webinars on ‘Waste to Art’ and ‘Waste Management Principles’ were delivered by Ankit Shah of Prakritik India, Uttarakhand, and S. Vigneswaran, Programme Officer, ICFRE-IFGTB EIACP, respectively on June 2. A campus cleaning drive held June 3 and 4 emphasised eliminating single-use plastics and fostering environmental stewardship. IFGTB Director R. Yasodha inaugurated the cleaning drive.

IFGTB organised a series of lectures across various institutions to raise awareness on plastic pollution and sustainable living from May 22 to June 5. Reusable cloth bags and awareness materials were distributed to encourage plastic-free lifestyles.

The institute, in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Anna Industrial Park, organised a greening drive that was inaugurated by District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar on Thursday. A total of 9,000 saplings of native trees were planted at Anna Industrial Park.

It also conducted various competitions such as quizzes, painting, and photography contests from May 22 to June 5, engaging the public in environmental awareness. An awareness poster on ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ was also released and distributed.

Greening drive by Siruthuli, Cognizant

Siruthuli in partnership with Cognizant planted 1,500 saplings of native trees in a farm at Keeranatham on Thursday as part of observing World Environment Day. A statement from Siruthuli said that volunteers would plant 1,200 saplings at Swami Dayananda Vanam at Government Hospital, Sundakkamuthur, with the support from G.S. Foundation on Friday.