SRINAGAR: Forest Department today celebrated World Ozone Day at Forest Headquarter, Sheikh Bagh Srinagar. The theme of the program for this year is “Protect the Ozone Layer and the Climate”. On the occasion, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. Mohit Gera deliberated on Paris Agreement as per which Green House Gas (GHG) emissions have to be reduced drastically so that rise of Global temperatures maintained at 20 C and dedicated efforts have to be put in place by the countries to bring it down further to 1.50 C.
The PCCF highlighted various issues facing the forest sector including impact on Natural regeneration, Forest fires, diseases etc and informed that 24% of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will come from forestry sector and accordingly 2.5-3 billion ton of Additional Carbon sinks need to be secured through forestry interventions in the country. On the occasion various Senior Officers spoke on the occasion highlighting importance of Ozone layer and how forest sector can also held in mitigation of changing climate.
The program was attended by Dr. Neelu Gera Director Social Forestry, S.K. Gupta Chief Wildlife Warden, Sarvesh Rai Addl. PCCF CAMPA, Asaf Mehmood Director Forest Protection Force, Vasu Yadav Managing Director State Forest Corporation, J. Frankoi CCF Eco Tourism, T. Rabi Kumar Chief Conservator of Forests Working Plan Research & Training, Sandeep Kujur CCF (Central) Farooq A. Gillani Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir, K. Ramesh Kumar CCF (FCA), Irfan Ali Shah Conservator of Forests, Central Circle and other Senior Conservators, DFOs, and other Forest officials.