Tree Planting in Asia – A new partnership in Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan, nestled amongst the giant Himalayas on the border of China and India, is a small and isolated country with a strong commitment to conservation. The protection of forests is embedded in the country’s constitution, ensuring the preservation of at least 60% of forest area at all times. Bhutan also celebrates a national holiday on June 2, “Social Forestry Day,” dedicated to planting trees around the country. On March 6, Bhutan celebrated the one-month birthday of its new Prince by carrying out tree plantations across the country. To mark the auspicious number “108,” the country announced it would plant 108,000 trees.

The Rooted In Hope team travelled to Bhutan in early March to complete our last half-marathon of our seven-continent journey to “Run the World, For the World.” Bhutan marked the culmination of our goal to run all seven continents while promoting global awareness of climate change. During our visit to Bhutan, we participated in a tree planting at a high school in Punakha, in which 108 Java Plum trees were planted in celebration of the new Prince. Rooted In Hope also supported the planting of hundreds of fruit-bearing trees across Punakha through a partnership with local stakeholders, including a Member of Parliament and the regional Minister of Forests.

The nationwide effort to plant trees and the collective support of the Bhutanese people is a testament to Bhutan’s commitment to the environment. Rooted In Hope is proud to support the country’s efforts to preserve its natural resources and empower its people to protect the planet.

The Minister of Forests demonstrates how to plant a tree to the students.

Rooted In Hope Founder, Cathy Rodgers, plants a tree seeding at Punakha High School.

Students at Punakha High School plant 108 trees on March 6.

Rooted In Hope makes a donation to support Bhutan’s tree-planting efforts.