DEE&RS organizes webinar, competitions to mark World Environment DAY
Jammu: The Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing (DEE&RS) organized a webinar and online competitions with the theme ‘Ecosystem Restoration” to mark observance of World Environment Day – 2021.
Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Environment and Ecology, Sanjeev Verma, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that protection and preservation of environment besides restoration of ecosystem is responsibility of all and we should contribute towards this noble cause wholeheartedly. He said that the department is at forefront of protecting environment and repairing against the damages caused by unsustainable human activities. He added that the department is in process of preparing documents for wetlands which will be a helpful guide for planning, general public and researchers. He further added that the department will dedicatedly earmark this year for restoration of Wetland Ecosystems.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. Mohit Gera, gave a brief about the interventions being made by the Forest department for restoration of forest ecosystems. He informed about the afforestation works carried out during 2020-21, covering more than 15000 ha and planting of more than one crore saplings. In addition, the department also carried out low-cost greening interventions under which about 44 lakh seeds were used for planting as seed balls, patch sowing and dibbling.
He also spoke on the Green JK drive, which is an ongoing programme of the department and will be continued with more vigour this year. He said that the forest department is taking innovative steps such as ‘One Village- one Forest Guard’ to help greening outside forest areas with the involvement of rural local bodies. He emphasized that the department is taking necessary steps to build adaptability and resilience of forest ecosystems by carefully selecting interventions for rehabilitation of degraded forests ecosystems, particularly grasslands as priority.
PCCF/Director, Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing Department, Dr. Neelu Gera, deliberated upon the importance of World Environment Day and its theme as “Ecosystem Restoration”. She stressed on strengthening the restoration measures for maintaining our ecosystems and strive to strike a fine balance between environment and development.
APCCF, Kashmir, T. Rabi Kumar, threw light on Biodiversity Conservation – Equity in access and Benefits for Ecosystem Restoration.
Chief Town Planner, Kashmir, Iftikhar Hakim, spoke about the challenges of population growth, urbanization and innovations in restoration of Urban Ecosystems.
Dr. M.K. Kumar explained the interventions being done by Wildlife Department for Restoration of Wildlife Corridor Ecosystem for minimizing the human-wildlife conflicts.
Conservator North Circle Kashmir and Coordinator WUCMA, Irfan Rasool Wani, explained about the process of restoration of Wular Lake Ecosystem to its pristine glory while Scientist, Coordinator ENVIS, Majid Farooq, presented the Climate Change Scenarios and its impact on Ecosystem Services.
An Android based Mobile App namely “Spring Mapper” prepared by the department of Ecology Environment and Remote Sensing intended to map and geo code all the springs in J&K, was also released on the occasion.
Commissioner Secretary complimented the department for bringing out the App that is intended to capture the geo location and other associated data of springs.
Meanwhile, online painting, videography, photography, info graphics and mascot designing competitions are also being held during the event.
Nearly, 800 entries were received from the participants for the online competitions. Attractive cash prizes and certificates shall be distributed among the participants during the weeklong celebrations.