Bageshwar: Uttarakhand’s famous tree lover and popularly known as ‘Tree Man’, Kishan Singh Malda, has made an invaluable contribution to environmental conservation since his youth. He has been continuously planting trees for the last 41 years, earning him the title of tree lover Kishan Malda.
Alongside his efforts, he has also prepared a research garden at his home. In recognition of his work, Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya awarded him the title of ‘Vriksha Purush’ in 2018.
Pledge to plant one crore saplings
Kishan Malda has loved trees and plants since childhood. As a child, he went to the forest with his mother and wanted to bring a bird home. His mother said without trees, the bird had nowhere to stay. This inspired him to plant trees with her. Despite the water shortage in his village, he began planting trees. He felt very sad when he saw a Peepal tree burning, leading him to pledge to plant one crore trees, including Peepal. He has planted 10 lakh trees so far and started a nursery in his mother’s name.
This tree man planted 10 lakh trees for birds
At 67, tree enthusiast Kishan Malda tends to his garden with unwavering dedication. He has cultivated a lush sanctuary called Devaki Laghu Vatika on two and a half bighas of land surrounding his home. This charming garden boasts around 280 species of significant trees and plants, including Chiura, Lukat, Rudraksh, Chandan, Banj, Shilling, Amarbel, Kapoor, Parijat, Bamboo, Ringal, and Moonga Silk. Moreover, Kishan Malda has established a Moonga Silk Garden, which has attracted researchers from around the globe. Presently, he is frequently invited to various events in Bageshwar for his expertise in plantation, be it social, cultural, political, or administrative.
The title of ‘Tree Man’
Tree lover Kishan Malda has been honored with many awards for his work. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has recognized his excellent work, and former Uttarakhand governor Baby Rani Maurya awarded him the title of ‘Vriksha Purush’ in 2018. Additionally, he has been honored with the ‘Main Uttarakhand Hoon’ award.
