Mumbai, Oct 15: Marie Sallois, the Director of Corporate Development and Sustainability of the IOC, highlighted the ground-breaking ecological restoration initiative during the 141st IOC session in Mumbai today. The Odisha Ridley Forest project is conceptualised and executed in partnership with International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Forest Network Initiative

The Odisha Ridley Forest Project is an extraordinary endeavour, seeking to go beyond conventional ecological restoration. Its objective is to align with Odisha's broader vision of utilizing sports as a catalyst for youth empowerment and harnessing the energy of the youth to create a sustainable future. This visionary initiative encompasses a comprehensive approach that involves reforestation, community-based forest management, and the preservation of local plant and animal species.

The Odisha Forest Department has been executing the Odisha Ridley Forest initiative which aims to plant one million trees over an area covering 1,500 hectares. The initiative has already achieved planting half a million trees till date.

The Olympic Forest Network is also part of a contribution to a broader initiative, Sport for Nature framework, which compliments the Sport for climate Framework. Through the Odisha Ridley Forest project, India joins Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain in launching the Olympic Forest Network initiative.

The project is being executed in partnership with the IOC, IOA, Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust and The Habitats Trust.

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