On a crisp morning in July, my heart raced with excitement as I joined Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Mount Everest — Ravi Lamichhane, Chand S J B Rana, and Suman Ratna Tuladhar — on a journey to plant saplings in central Nepal. We were headed for Dalchoki, a breathtaking village about 23km (14.2 miles) from Patan in the southern part of the Lalitpur district. It is a hill country ranging from 1,200 to 2,300ft (3,900 to 7,545ft) above sea level.
Rotary District 3292 has a proud history of massive tree plantings, but this year’s “50,000 Trees in One Day” campaign was our most ambitious yet. By uniting communities, wards, social organisations, educational institutions and local governments across Nepal and Bhutan, we aimed to make this the largest and most impactful tree-planting initiative in our history.
We reached Dalchoki after an hour’s journey along twisting roads with epic views. Once there, we waited for other Rotarians and members of the local community to join us as the fog lifted, skies cleared, and a chilly breeze kept us on our toes.
District Governor Binod Koirala’s vision had set the tone: “Together, we can create a lasting green legacy for our communities and future generations. This is not just about planting trees; it is about planting hope and strengthening community ties.”
Young and old carried saplings, greeted each other with laughter, and brimmed with enthusiasm. We planted trees in parks and hilly areas, near schools, public spaces, police stations and highways. We gradually transformed landscapes across urban and rural settings with hope and greenery.
After the trees were planted, Rotary clubs collaborated with stakeholders to ensure the saplings’ survival, providing protective fencing, regular watering, and community-led monitoring. In this way, sustainability was built into our project.
We felt inspired by the presidential message Unite For Good, considering our efforts a demonstration of how collective action can build a brighter, greener future. Our tree-planting campaign was more than an event, it was a movement. With every tree planted, our district left a legacy of hope, unity and environmental stewardship for generations to come.
The writer is assistant governor for
RID 3292 (Nepal, Bhutan), and past president of
RC Yala, Nepal.