As part of Van Mahotsava - Green J&K, a Plantation Drive was today organized at J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration & Rural Development (J&K IMPA&RD), Jammu in collaboration with J&K Forest, Ecology and Environment Department.Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology & Environment Department & Director General, J&K IMPA&RD Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, inaugurated the plantation drive by planting a sapling of Chinar tree in the Campus.About 100 plants of different species of ornamental, fruiting and medicinal plants including Chinar, Bottle Brush were planted in the premises. Another tree Cassia Glauca is also being planted as part of drive, which helps restore nitrogen in soil.Besides, students of Government School, Majeen, Sidhra, Jammu also participated in this plantation drive.Commissioner Secretary interacted with the students and highlighted the role of plantation in restoring the ecosystem and the adverse effects of global warming.Addressing the gathering, Dwivedi informed that the department aims to plant 50 lakh trees in the state this year. To fulfill this target, 9 lakh saplings will be planted in areas of Jammu region with ongoing planting/ growing season, he added. He said that multiple plantation drives are being conducted in collaboration with Government departments, corporations, Educational Institutions, NGOs, Armed forces and Civil Society to raise awareness about the importance of individual involvement and active participation in the endeavor to restore green cover in the state. He also outlined the role of various stakeholders in protection of environment.He said that a similar drive will also be carried out during planting season in Kashmir region.Later, Director General, J&K IMPA&RD also took a review meeting with the officers of the Institute with regard to various training activities and infrastructural development works as well as various centrally sponsored schemes being implemented by the Institute.Among others, Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu Sameer Bharti, Conservator of Forest East Circle Samuel Changkija, DFOs, other officers from Forest Department and Director Trainings Dr. Reva Sharma, FA&CAO Amit Kumar, Deputy Director, J&K IMPA&RD, Jammu, Mita Kumari, Jammu and other officers from J&K IMPA&RD, Jammu participated in this drive by planting saplings of various species of ornamental, fruit and medicinal plants.