The following time you visit backwoods in Jambughoda and track down the green space liberated from man-made ‘thoughtless waste’, don’t be surprised. Worried over plastic waste destroying the timberlands and harming the eco-framework, a group of youngsters from the city have started the ‘Mission Clean Forest’ crusade in the state.
“We started our campaign from Jambughoda forest as it is one of the most popular spots for tourists and trekkers. A week ago, we collected about 550 kilograms of plastic and thermocol waste within a day from the Jambughoda sanctuary. We are yet to cover a vast area,” said Siddharth Amin, who runs the Life With Wildlife Foundation.
“It was so disturbing to see even interior forest areas littered with non-biodegradable waste. People who have been frequenting this forest either for religious purposes or for trekking, dispose of waste carelessly. Most of the waste gets covered up by shrubs and remains invisible. Plastic and thermocol waste is damaging the ecosystem,” Amin said, adding that his team keeps visiting Jambughoda forests to help the tribals.
“We donate clothes, crayons, lunch boxes, and study material every year. Once we gain their trust, we educate them about the importance of wildlife and urge them not to kill reptiles or wild animals. During our visits, we saw garbage in the forests and then decided to act. The forest department is giving us all the support,” Amin told.
Currently, a group of about 75 youngsters including students from Parul University, members of Canine Group, Rotary Club of Baroda Greens, and Shri Dwarkamai Charitable Trust have joined the Mission Clean Forest campaign.
“The plastic waste we collect is handed over to ‘Kachre se Azadi’, an NGO that sends it for recycling. Our next target is to clear Ratanmahal forests of the plastic waste and gradually we will take this campaign to different forests in Gujarat,” Amin said.