Our planet is speaking — and it is time we all pause and listen. Every year on June 5th, millions of people across the globe come together to observe World Environment Day, a movement led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1973. What began as an environmental awareness day has now become the world’s largest platform for collective action and public outreach on green issues.
On World Environment Day 2026, the message resonates more deeply than ever: protecting our environment is no longer optional. It has become an urgent necessity as ecosystem degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss push our planet toward critical tipping points.
Soumya Ranjan Biswal, a passionate young coastal conservationist from Odisha, feels this truth in his bones. Having dedicated more than 15 years since 2012 to mangrove restoration, marine turtle protection, and community-based climate action, Soumya believes that now is the moment for real, on-ground change.
Ommcom News had the pleasure of speaking with Soumya on this special day. On this special day, let Soumya’s journey move you to plant, protect, and preserve — because every sapling, every clean beach, and every aware mind counts.
His journey is not just inspiring — it is a living example of how one individual’s childhood curiosity can blossom into a powerful movement for nature. Soumya’s love for the environment began at the tender age of ten, when he was a Class IV student. A retired Canadian scientist, lovingly called “Robert Uncle,” visited his village near the Devi River Mouth to study Olive Ridley sea turtles. The scientist would gather village children for beach clean-ups, and young Soumya was always eager to join. Those early experiences planted a deep sense of responsibility in him that never faded. As he grew older, his passion only deepened. In school, he would constantly question his teachers and read everything he could find about mangroves and sea turtles. The real turning point came when he connected with Abhyudaya Rajiv Kelkar, who encouraged him to move beyond social media awareness and take concrete steps on the ground.
Inspired by India’s “Forest Man” Jadav Payeng, Soumya decided he too could create meaningful change. In 2014, he founded the Odisha Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abhiyan (OPSA) with the support of friends and like-minded conservationists. His focus has remained on protecting Odisha’s fragile coastal ecosystems — particularly the Devi River Mouth, Chilika Lake Ramsar Site, and vulnerable stretches in Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, and his own Puri district.
Through community-driven efforts involving fisherfolk, women, youths, and school children, Soumya and his team have already planted over 2,80,000 mangrove saplings and facilitated to different stakeholders and community-based organisations in different districts. That’s not all. He and his team have educated more than 1,55,000 coastal residents. His work has helped revive the mass nesting habitat of Olive Ridley turtles at Devi River Mouth and strengthened local climate resilience.
Off late, Soumya has announced an ambitious new target — the Million Mangroves by 2030 initiative. This flagship project aims to restore one million mangroves along Odisha’s coast, building natural shields against cyclones, rising seas, and biodiversity loss while empowering local communities to lead the change. His long-term vision stretches to 2050, with the dream of fully revitalised, self-sustaining coastal ecosystems.
“For us, mangroves are not just trees. They are protection from cyclones, a source of income, and a natural system that keeps our coastline alive. Where the ocean takes everything, we are rebuilding our only protection. I work at the Devi River mouth in Odisha — a historic 1999 super cyclone landfall zone and one of India’s most climate-vulnerable coastlines. I believe this can grow into something much bigger — a movement, built by communities, for resilience and survival.”
He further said, “Million Mangroves by 2030 is a mission to protect vulnerable coastlines, biodiversity, and future generations across the Bay of Bengal. Let’s act together before it is too late. Your support can help protect both people and nature. On World Environment Day 2026, let us unite for people, planet, and a resilient future.”
“What began as a childhood responsibility has grown into a lifelong commitment to restoring ecosystems, empowering communities, and inspiring future generations. As we move forward, the mission remains clear—to revive the glory of the Devi River Mouth, restore one million mangroves by 2030, strengthen community-led conservation and environmental education, and work towards a larger vision for 2050,” he stated.
Soumya’s dedication has earned him global recognition, including being selected as a UN India Yuwaah Advocate (2022-2024), featuring among the top 17 grassroots youth climate leaders in India, and participating in the prestigious International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) by the US State Department. He has also received the Amazing Indian Award 2022 for his environmental work.
From a ten-year-old boy cleaning beaches with “Robert Uncle” to a leading voice for coastal conservation, Soumya’s story reminds us that real change begins with small, consistent actions rooted in love for the land and sea.
“This journey belongs to all of us. It is time we listen to what our planet is telling us and act together” said Soumya before signing off.
By Rashmi Rekha Das
