Gurugram athletes, MMF unite to combat pollution with urban forests

Gurugram, April 20: Gurugram's athletic community has joined forces with the Million Miyawaki Foundation (MMF) in an initiative to tackle air pollution. Led by Ironwoman triathlete Rani Maheshwari, The Good Sole Club (TGSC), a collective of passionate runners, cyclists, and triathletes, collaborated with MMF to plant a dense mini-forest at Suraj School, Sector 56, Gurugram.

Inspired by MMF's vision of uniting communities for cleaner air, Maheshwari, one of only eight Indian women to complete an Ironman, rallied TGSC to address Gurgaon's severe air quality issues. The Million Miyawaki Project, spearheaded by MMF with support from Rise Foundation, has already successfully cultivated 34 urban forests in the Delhi-NCR region. Utilizing the innovative Miyawaki technique, these compact 2000 sq ft plots rapidly grow into self-sustaining forests of 600 native trees within two years, each hosting 20-25 species.

A unique aspect of this project is the active engagement of school children. MMF partners with schools, empowering students to become environmental ambassadors. They learn firsthand how each mature mini-forest can generate enough oxygen for over 2,400 people, reduce dust, and lower local temperatures, creating vital pockets of clean air within urban environments, according to the MMF press release.

MMF actively seeks the involvement of diverse communities--including groups like TGSC, schools, colleges, corporations, and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs)--to drive urban rewilding through collective action and foster a positive shift in the environmental landscape.

Reader Comments

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Priya K.

This is such an inspiring initiative! 👏 As a Gurugram resident, I've seen our air quality deteriorate over the years. It's amazing to see athletes leading by example. Maybe my housing society should reach out to MMF too!

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Rahul S.

Love that they're involving school kids - teaching the next generation about environmental responsibility is crucial. My nephew participated in one of these plantings and hasn't stopped talking about it!

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Anjali M.

While I appreciate the effort, I wonder how effective these small forests really are against Gurugram's massive pollution problem. Would love to see some concrete data on air quality improvements near existing MMF forests.

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Vikram P.

The Miyawaki method is brilliant! We need more of these across the city. Kudos to Rani Maheshwari for using her platform to drive change. Maybe we'll see more athletes joining the movement!

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Sunita R.

As a teacher at Suraj School, I can tell you the kids were THRILLED to be part of this project. They've already named their section of the forest and check on the saplings every day. 🌱 This hands-on learning is priceless.

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