Meet The Treeman Of Kashmir

Abdul Hamid has planted over two lakh trees in Kashmir and by 2030 he's planning to complete his mission of planting one million trees in the valley

Abdul Hamid Bhat who started as a scooter mechanic is the owner of Rahim Motors, one of the biggest automobile workshops in Srinagar. But his passion is to create Green spaces in the Kashmir Valley. He uses substantial chunk of his earnings from automobile business and invests in a venture called Rahim Greens.

So far Abdul Hamid has planted over two lakh trees in the barren lands and forest areas that have faced massive vandalism over the years. By 2030 he's planning to complete his mission of planting one million trees in the valley.

In Budgam district, Sutharan forest was denuded after thousands of alpine trees were cut down by timber smugglers. Ten year ago Abdul Hamid decided to start afforestation there. Today, Sutharan is restored back to its glory - a thick alpine forest has come up. Hamid says, it's all about common man's social responsibility and gives him happiness.

“I feel so happy. If you had visited here 10 years ago, it was like a desert, all trees were cut down, only five to 10 trees were left. Today it's a lush green forest,” said Mr Hamid.