Jammu and Kashmir is a biodiversity rich and world famous tourist destination, adorned by lush green forests. The phrase "Kashmir is heaven on earth by Jehangir, a Mughal Emperor, who exclaimed Agar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast (If there is ever a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here). However, for some years, we have been destroying our natural resources through pollution, deforestation, forest fires, and the destruction of wildlife habitats, polluting water bodies, soil, and causing harm to other living organisms on Earth. It is said that if you play with nature, it will
reciprocate. Humanity has become very selfish, annihilating various creatures for its own benefit, attempting to eliminate the environment wherever it goes.
In our valley, our greatest treasure lies in the lush and beautiful forests with all kinds of blessings. Although Kashmir is famous as a tourist destination, it is due to these vast and evergreen lush green forests. However, people here do not value this. They cut down trees recklessly, engaging in deforestation, as if a new tree will sprout in the forest in just five days. As a forestry research scholar, having spent 11 years pursuing a forestry degree, I have devoted myself to these jungles. I love trees as much as I love my family because I know how important a tree is for us and how many years it takes for a tree to grow. Another and most important issue is that climate change has been rapidly increasing for some years. But this year, drought has persisted for a long time, causing forest fires to intensify in every district. I have been observing a continuous fire in the Kangan, Ganderbal forest belt for the past two days, and we have called the DFO office of Ganderbal Sindh Forest Division, but there has been no
response. Imagine how many plants and trees would have been destroyed in the grip of the fire, and even regeneration is completely destroyed, which is impossible to withstand. And, as you know, regeneration of Abies pindrow (budul) occurs at higher altitudes, and in some places, mostly endangered medicinal plants are also found. But due to drastic fires, they are destroyed completely. Due to the forest department's failure to take timely action, the fire spreads throughout the forest, taking everything in its path.
Those working in the forest department are earning rewards for themselves by serving creation. If you plant a tree, it will be considered charity for you forever. But if you cut down a tree, you have committed the murder of four people. Save the jungle, ward off diseases. As rightly said by Sheikh Noor-Ud-Din-Wali (RA), ANN POSHI TELI YEL WANN POSHI means Food will last as long as the forest lasts.
To prevent fire incidents, the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department needs to establish a forest fire and emergency control room in every DFO office and train some skilled employees to form a team that can take timely action when a fire incident occurs. The department should involve the community living near the forests, conduct workshops and training in those areas, and make people
aware of how to protect our forests during a fire. As responsible citizens, when we go for a walk in the forests, we must avoid causing fires, and the department should provide firefighting equipment and manpower to avoid losing skilled employees' lives. We request the forest department to equip their team with modified firefighting equipment and address the shortage of manpower.
The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department has a separate sister wing the Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing. By utilizing remote sensing tools and satellite systems, the department will not only to respond promptly to fire incidents but also to preemptively identify areas at risk of drastic damage. This proactive approach ensures that vital information reaches the Forest Department in a timely manner, allowing for swift and effective intervention to mitigate potential disasters. Furthermore, the integration of these technologies enables the Forest Department to conduct comprehensive assessments of forest health, monitor biodiversity, and analyze land use patterns. This data driven approach contributes to informed decision making, aiding in the sustainable management and conservation of the region's diverse ecosystems. Those working in the forest department are earning rewards for themselves by serving creation. If you plant a tree, it will be considered charity for you forever. But if you cut down a tree, you have committed the murder of four people. Save the jungle, ward off diseases. As rightly said by Sheikh Noor-Ud-Din-Wali (RA), ANN POSHI TELI YEL WANN POSHI
means Food will last as long as the forest lasts.
(The author is a Ph.D scholar at Faculty of Forestry SKUAST-K ADR at Directorate of Research, SKUAST-K Shalimar. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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