West Champaran’s ‘Green Guardian’ plants 10L saplings in two decades

Bettiah: Forty-three-year-old Gajendra Yadav from Pipra village under Bagaha block in West Champaran district has planted more than 10 lakh saplings over the past two decades. Through his sustained efforts, he has transformed large stretches of land into thriving green cover, earning recognition across the region as a “Green Guardian”.For Yadav, trees are not merely plants but members of his family. His life revolves around nurturing nature and protecting the environment. Despite suffering from heart-related health problems and having limited financial resources, his determination has never wavered. He even chose not to marry, dedicating his entire life to planting and caring for trees.In recognition of his contribution to environmental protection, Yadav has also been honoured by CM Nitish Kumar. The award acknowledged his dedication and the positive impact of his work on society and the environment.Recalling how his journey began, Yadav said, “In 1998, I went to work in the mining sector in Madhya Pradesh. There I fell seriously ill and returned home. I remained bedridden for two years. During that time, I used to listen to various programmes on the radio. Hearing about global warming deeply worried me. At that moment, I made a vow that if I recovered, I would dedicate my entire life to trees and plants.”Since 2003, Yadav has planted trees in many places, including canal banks, farm footpaths, school premises and the grounds of temples and mosques. He also encourages people to plant trees on their birthdays and often joins them during plantation drives.“Trees and plants are my family. My happiness and sorrow are connected with them. As long as I live, I will continue planting trees. Protecting nature is our collective responsibility,” Yadav said.Over the last 23 years, he has planted a wide variety of saplings, including mango, guava, litchi and jackfruit, among other species. Many of these saplings have now grown into mature trees that provide fruits, shade and fresh oxygen while helping improve the ecological balance of the region. His work has not only increased greenery but also raised environmental awareness among local residents.His efforts have drawn appreciation from forest department officials and members of the community. Hemkant Rai, joint director of the Bihar State Biodiversity Board (BSBB), said, “I served as the DFO of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve from 2014 to 2017 and later as the conservator of forests and director.” During that period, Yadav actively participated in several schemes run by the forest department. He planted poplar saplings under the Social Forestry Scheme and also planted saplings in public places using his own money.Sakina Khatoon, mukhiya of Narwal-Barwal panchayat, said, “I have been representing this panchayat for the past two decades and have long observed Gajendra Babu’s dedication to nature. He may be a heart patient, but his heart truly resides in trees and plants.”Teacher and nature lover Nippu Kumar Pathak said Yadav’s work has inspired people across the region to take part in plantation drives and environmental protection.