Details

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 02 February 2018

• Stresses on synergized efforts for their preservation

JAMMU: Directorate of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing today organised a programme at Surinsar to mark the “World Wetlands Day”. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Ravi Kesar presided over the programme. Chairman ,State Pollution Control Board(SPCB), B Siddhartha, Chief Wildlife Warden, Manoj Panth, Director Social Forestry , Ashwani Gupta, Director SFRI, B M Sharma, Director Soil Water and Conservation , Javed Iqbal Punju, Chief Conservator of Forests, Farooq Gillani, Managing Director State Forest Corporation, Suresh Gupta, Regional Director ,SPCB, Showkat Chowdhary, Regional Director Wildlife Warden, Dr V S Sinthil Kumar, Regional Director Social Forestry, Roop Kour Avtar, Conservator East Circle ,Kh Qamar-ud-Din besides other senior officers of Forests were present on the occasion.

 

While addressing a large gathering, PCCF stressed on importance of preservation of wetlands as they are the life support systems that ensure functioning of the water cycle. Underlining the importance of wetlands, he said that wetland help to recharge groundwater aquifers, cleanse polluted waters, protect shorelines and act as sponges to mitigate floods. He further said that the extensive food chain and biological diversity in wetlands make them ‘biological supermarkets’. He further said that wetlands are valuable sources and are indeed an important part of our natural wealth

 

The PCCF said that the Forest Department and its allied wings have been tasked with a very important role to conserve the wetlands and other natural resources which directly impact the life of human beings and other living creatures. He said dedicated efforts are required to meet this noble cause. Asserting that the responsibility of afforestation lies on both the government and people, the PCCF called for collective efforts on part of all stakeholders so that the mission of compensating the depletion of forest cover in the state can be achieved.

 

He appealed the people to actively organize and participate in plantation drives in monsoon every year to make it a regular activity. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts with the involvement of various stakeholders to minimize loss to the natural resources. He said the department should keep close watch on the activities of executing agencies to ensure that the natural resources are saved.

 

The PCCF informed that the World Wetland Day, celebrated on 2nd February each year around the world to mark the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the city of Ramsar in Iran in 1971, is a day to promote, create awareness and ensure positive and affirmative action for conservation of wetlands. Theme of this year is ‘Wetland for our Future – Sustainable Livelihoods’, he added. Earlier, the Directorate of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing organized various programmes like painting competition, debate competition, and cultural activities to generate mass awareness on Wetland and its importance for our livelihood.