Sikhs around the world are planting a million new trees as a “gift to the entire planet.”
The Million Tree Project aims to reverse environmental decline and celebrates the 550th birthday of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak in November.
The Washington DC-based environmental organisation EcoSikh is co-ordinating the project with volunteers and environmental specialists to plant 1,820 forests around the world.
Each one will contain several hundred shrubs and trees that are native to the area.
President of EcoSikh Rajwant Singh told The Guardian: “Guru Nanak was a nature lover. [He] had talked about nature as a manifestation of God and many of his writings talk about how we need to learn lessons of life from nature.”
As the majority of the world’s Sikh population lives in the state of Punjab, every village in the state has committed to planting 550 saplings.
Trees are also popping up in the UK, US, Australia and Kenya.
Palvinder Singh Chana, the chair of UK-based Sikh Union Coventry, told The Guardian: “As Sikhs, our connection to the environment is an integral part of our faith and identity.
“Future generations will benefit from the fruits of our labour, symbolising peace, friendships and continuity for generations to come.”
EcoSikh is working with Afforestt, an organisation that trains people to design and build small native forests that grow quickly and are a sustainable part of the ecosystem.
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