Jammu: Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar Saturday inaugurated Foresters Conference and Exhibition organized by Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing to observe International Day of Forests.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Suresh Kumar Chug, Chief Conservator of Forest, Eco-Tourism J. Frankoi, Regional Director Pollution Control Board, Shally Ranjan, Director Forest Protection Board, Asaf Mahmood, Director Soil Conservation P.K Singh, Director Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing B. Sidhartha Kumar, Director State Forest Research Institute, O.P Sharma, Director Social Forestery Neelu Gera and various other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Advisor highlighted the importance of international day of forests and laid stress on inter-relationship between forests and education. He also stressed on the need of protection of forests and increase in green cover by planting more plants and involving civil society, school children and youth in the endeavour.
He said forests act as homes for wild animals around the world. Since humans and animals are dependent on each other for their existence and survival, it is important to conserve and save their home just like we maintain our own.
The Advisor congratulated the organizers for organizing the event to create awareness regarding the role and importance of the environment, ecology and wildlife.
On the occasion the Advisor released a report regarding Socio Economic Survey of villages around Kazinag Natioanl Park and three documentary films about Black Bear, Man Animal Conflict and Landscape.
The Advisor handed over Hero Motor Cycle presented by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India and donated by Hero Motor Corp under CSR for wildlife frontline staff. He lauded the efforts and role of frontline staff in conservation and protection of forests.
The Advisor also planted a tree in ceremonial plantation of the event and visited stalls installed by Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing and other allied departments to demonstrate various initiatives and operation being carried out in the state to protect and conserve environment and ecology.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal Chief Conservator, Suresh Kumar Chug informed that under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), 38 lakh plants will be planted this year covering an area of five thousand hectors.
While congratulations the front line wildlife teams for their extraordinary work, he said nine wing of the department are working collectively to protect the wildlife across the state.
He asked the DFOs for making control rooms more vibrant to avoid forest fires in summer season and stressed for mass awareness campaigning at district level about the role and importance of forest and wildlife.
Speaking on the occasion, Regional Director Pollution Control Board Shally Ranjan said forests are our pride, but they are rapidly disappearing all over the world. What many people fail to comprehend is that the loss of this natural resource could spell disaster for our planet.
He added that protecting the world’s forests should be our very first priority in fighting global warming and climate change as forests are critical to life on Earth – 1.6 billion people rely on them directly for food, shelter, fuel and income.
