The World Wetlands Day was celebrated by the Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department at Gharana. The celebration of this day is a regular annual feature to raise awareness about the values of wetlands for humanity and the planet. The theme for this year’s World Wetlands Day is “Wetlands and Biodiversity”.The Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve is “Important Bird Area” in the Jammu and Kashmir and notified under the Wildlife Protection Act. An impressive gathering of school children, teachers, local residents of Gharana and adjoining villages, officers and staff of Wildlife, Forest, Environment and Ecology, Social Forestry, SFRI, PCB, SFC and Local Administration, Education and other Departments took part in the event.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Mohit Gera, IFS was the Chief Guest on the occasion. The event was organized by the Wildlife Protection Department under supervision of Suresh Kumar Gupta, IFS Chief Wildlife Warden, Jammu and Kashmir. The children of various schools also participated in the drawing competition.Earlier, Dr. Kumar M.K, Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu presented the welcome address. The Chief Guest while addressing the participants stressed that development should not be at the cost of conservation of eco-systems and added that eco-friendly approach was required while taking up developmental activities. The NGO members also spoke on the occasion.The others who spoke on the occasion included O.P. Sharma Vidyarthi, J. Frankoi, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Eco-tourism), prominent social activists and local residents.The Chief Guest released the calendar of Wildlife Protection Department and gave prizes to the participant students and wildlife photographers. Wildlife Protection Department and wildlife photographers also exhibited their works during the event.The Wildlife Warden, Shahzad Chowdhary presented the vote of thanks, while Rishi Paul, Range Officer coordinated the event.