Bhutan welcomes newborn Prince by planting over 1 lakh trees

Photo credit: Facebook.com/KingJigmeKhesar

Thimphu: The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan celebrated the birth of their new prince by planting about 108,000 trees across the region earlier this month.

As per reports, Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and the leader of Opposition were among the 100,000 volunteers who took part in planting of the trees on March 6, 2016.

The initiative came about a month after the King Khesar and Queen Pema of Bhutan announced the birth of their first child on February 5, 2016.

It is said that trees are sacred in Bhudhism as they symbolise longevity, health, beauty and even compassion. Moreover, the event, organized by the Kingdom's politicians, has religious significant as the number of trees planted was exactly 108,000.

According to Tenzin Lepkhell, one of the coordinators, “108 is a holy number in Buddhism which denotes the cleansing of 108 degradations that delay souls from attaining enlightenment, “ hence 108 beads in a rosary.”

While each of the 82000 households of the country planted a tree, the remaining 26000 trees were planted by volunteers.

“Each sapling encapsulates a prayer and a wish from the person who planted it to His Royal Highness the Prince so that just like the bountiful tree, the Prince also grows up healthy, strong, wise and compassionate,” Lepkhell added.

One of the smallest countries in the world, but Bhutan's commitment to conservation is bigger than most. The county preserves (at all times) 60 percent of its land under forest cover.

Last year, it set a world record by planting 49,672 trees in one hour.

Analysis from a climate change think tank also shows the Himalayan Kingdom as an unparalleled carbon sink, absorbing three times more CO2 emissions than its population produces.