The Forest Department observed 50th Earth Day with theme ‘Climate Action’ through web conferencing in view of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.The event was participated by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and participated by HoDs and senior officers of allied wings of Forest Department including Pollution Control Board, Social Forestry Department, Soil & Water Conservation, Wildlife and WUCMA besides representatives of prominent NGOs and civil society.While inaugurating the Web Conferencing, Commissioner Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment & Ecology, Sarita Chauhan, highlighted the importance of Earth Day and its significance in view of the recent threats in modern times like climate change, increasing level of air, water and land pollution, which are posing ever increasing challenges in safeguarding our mother planet and mankind as a whole. She stressed upon the need for involving people and other stakeholders in efforts towards tackling the climate change. She also advocated for the need to balance the development needs with the requirement of nature conservation.Dr. Mohit Gera elaborated on the success of Green J&K Drive besides highlighting the future plans of the Forest Department in this regard. He stressed the need for involvement of all line departments and people of Jammu and Kashmir in government’s endeavors towards protecting and preserving the environment in J&K.Member Secretary Pollution Control Board, B. M. Sharma highlighted the efforts being made by Pollution Control Board towards prevention and control of pollution in J&K.Regional Director Social Forestry, Jammu, Mohinder Gupta, described the role of the department in meeting demand for wood by involving farming communities through promotion of Trees outside forest.PCCF and Director Environment Ecology & Remote Sensing Dr. Neelu Gera, gave vivid description of State Action Plan for climate change for Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and deliberated on its revision and requirement of funds.Chief Wildlife Warden, Suresh Kumar Gupta, discussed the issues and challenges being faced by the department in Wildlife conservation.
Additional PCCF, CAMPA, Sarvesh Rai, presented a detailed picture of forestry interventions being made under CAMPA for rehabilitation of degraded forests, increasing the forest cover, quality of Wildlife habitat and enhancement of eco-system services from forest eco-systems.Chief Executive Director WUCMA Farooq Gillani, emphasized the role of WUCMA in preserving Wular Lake, the largest Wetland of Jammu & Kashmir.Director Asia region, Earth Day network, Karuna Singh, gave details of important commitments made by their NGO towards protection of mother Earth. Nadeem Qadri from Earth Day Network expressed keenness of their NGO to work in collaboration with forest department for environment protection of Jammu and Kashmir.Director Forest Research Institute, Asaf Mehmood Sagar, apprised about field application of research being carried out in plantation technology.Dean, forestry, SKAUST Kashmir, Dr. T.H Masoodi, gave a view on research being carried out in the field of climate change and its impact on forests and wildlife.CEO, State Medicinal Plant Board, T.Rabi Kumar, while proposing formal vote of thanks, highlighted the issues involved in Bio-diversity Conservation in J&K.The web conferencing took stock of present status of environment in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by involving all line departments of Forest, Wildlife, Environment and Soil & Water Conservation along with other stakeholders like Academia and NGOs.The deliberations involved building strategies towards accelerating “Climate Action” for environment protection, ecological security and sustainable management of our natural resources especially forests and Bio-diversity. The important activities like Green J&K Drive, Conservation of Wildlife and Bio-diversity, involvement of stakeholders especially Gram Panchayats, revision of State Action Plan on Climate Change, Conservation of Wetlands besides prevention and control of pollution were discussed during the conferencing.The web conferencing was attended by more than 80 officers, academicians, members of NGOs and civil society.