UDHAMPUR: Udhampur Forest Division celebrated International Day of Forests with great enthusiasm and fervour at DFO Complex Udhampur. On the occasion, DDC Chairman, Lal Chand and President Municipal Council, Dr Yogeshwar Gupta recognised the outstanding contributions of Gram Panchayat Latti-A Sarpanch, Kasturi Lal and Educational Institution Sarswati Vidhya Mandir School Mand towards afforestation and promoting environmental awareness.
Gram Panchayat Latti-A was honoured with an award of Rs 20 thousand and Sarswati Vidhya Mandir School Mand was awarded Rs 10 thousand. The awards were given as recognition of their significant contributions to preserving and promoting the importance of forests and their ecological significance.
DDC Chairman, Lal Chand and Municipal Council President, Dr Yogeshwar Gupta emphasised the importance of preserving forests for human survival and called upon everyone to play their part in promoting sustainable forest management practices.
DFO Udhampur, Rushal Garg highlighted the diverse forest types of Udhampur. ‘The district is home to 42 different forest types- highest in the country- including alpine, moist temperate, dry temperate, sub-tropical etc. This diverse range provides a unique habitat for various flora and fauna and is an important source of livelihood for many communities in the region’, he said.
SRINAGAR: As part of observing World Plantation Day, J&K Bank today conducted a plantation drive wherein saplings comprising of various species were planted at various places in the valley.
MD & CEO, J&K Bank, Baldev Prakash led the drive by planting a fruit sapling in the lawn of Bank’s corporate headquarters with General Managers, DGMs and other senior officers present on the occasion. General Managers and DGMs also planted different trees in the lawn.
Speaking on the occasion, MD and CEO said, “Planting of these saplings here is a symbolic gesture to celebrate the World Plantation Day. The idea is to communicate bank’s commitment towards environmental awareness and the noble cause of attaining ecological well-being.”
Similar plantation drives were held in collaboration with Rahim Greens at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hazratbal and Srinagar Women’s College Zakura. GM & Divisional Head (Kashmir) Syed Shafat Hussain, Director NIT Professor Rakesh Sehgal, Registrar NIT Professor Kaiser Bukhari, Bank’s Deputy General Manager Ashok Gupta besides Deans and HoDs of various NIT departments planted various tree saplings at Hazratbal campus of NIT Srinagar.
Meanwhile, Principal (Srinagar Women’s College) Prof. Tehmina Yousuf planted tree saplings along with Bank’s Cluster Head (Srinagar) Mian Farhat at Zakura Campus.
DODA: On the occasion of International Day of Forests, Government Medical College Doda collaborated with J&K Forest Department to conduct a mega plantation drive at the GMC campus. Students and staff of GMC Doda participated in the event with great enthusiasm and planted 150 deodar saplings. A plea was made for a greener environment with a focus on taking care of the planted trees.
Among those present were the CAO GMC, DIO Doda, heads of various departments and staff members including Range Officer and his staff. The event was supervised by Principal Government Medical College Doda, Puja Vimesh.
BUDGAM: The Department of Social Forestry SGR range Budgam today organized a mega plantation drive at TR Memorial college Of Engineering and Research Hayatpora Budgam. The drive was kick-started by Charman, District Development Council (DDC) Budgam, Nazir Ahmad Khan and Regional Forestry Director, Mehraj Din.
The drive was attended by DFO Tanveer Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad Gojri, Range Forest Officer, Social Forestry Range Budgam; Abdul Majeed Paray, President JK Trade Union Council; Mehraj ud Din Dar, Alasma Education institute Budgam International Islamic School Budgam.
Principal Al-Asama educational Institute alongwith the staff and other officials of Forest Department. In this plantation drive focus was laid on importance of plants in our lives and preservation of green gold.
- Urges people to plant more and more trees for protection of environment
PULWAMA: In connection with the celebration of World Planting Day, a plantation drive was today organised by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Baseer-Ul-Haq Choudhary, here.
On the occasion, the DC planted trees within the premises of the District Hospital Pulwama and kick-started the plantation drive in presence of District Floriculture Officer Pulwama.
Speaking at the occasion, the DC said that the aim of celebrating World Planting Day is to generate awareness among the people for the importance of planting trees. He emphasized the role of trees in protection of the environment and human survival and urged upon all stakeholders including the general public to plant more and more trees in this plantation season.
The DC said that the campaign has been started with the purpose to increase the green cover in the district and in coming days more such plantation drives will be initiated in other panchayats of the District.This day is dedicated to planting whatever you possibly can, from trees, flowers to vegetables, but also spreading awareness of the importance of plants, DC added.
Choudhary said that Plants and trees provide food for all terrestrial organisms, supply oxygen, control soil erosion, and are used to make medicines. He also directed the concerned officers for involvement of Youth Clubs in plantation drive. On the occasion, trees were planted on the road dividers among the main routes of the district.
The DC said that planting trees on the road dividers will add to the green cover, besides purifying the environment, absorbing the dust and making the roads greener and cleaner in the district. He added that there is a need to plant more and more tress alongside the main roads of the district to make the it more greener.
Other officers including DFO also spoke and gave awareness to the people about the importance of World Planting Day. Chairman MC Pulwama, ACP Pulwama, DySP HQ Pulwama, ACD Pulwama and other officers and officials accompanied the DC on the occasion.
- Booklet 'Let us Conserve Biodiversity' released
KULGAM: On the eve of International Day of Forests being celebrated every year on 21st of March, mega Plantation drive was today organized by Forest division Kulgam at Government Degree College (GDC) Kulgam. This year the day is being celebrated with the theme, “FORESTS AND HEALTH”.
The Plantation drive was kick-started by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat by planting a sapling of cedrus deodara within the premises of GDC Kulgam.
The programme was attend by College faculty, Officers from Social Forestry, Forest Protection Force, members of NSS volunteers, NGOs, media fraternity and students of GDC Kulgam.
The DC in his address highlighted the role of forests in providing abundance of Ecosystem services and thereby promoting healthy lives. During the event plant saplings were also distributed among NSS volunteers. Later, a Booklet compiled by Kulgam Forest division “Let us Conserve Biodiversity” was also released.
KUPWARA: On the eve of International Day of Forests, Social Forestry Division (SFD) Kupwara in collaboration with NSS unit and Eco-Club of Government Degree College (GDC) Sogam today organized a mass plantation drive at Muqam Dardpora Lolab. The programme was presided by Prof Mehbooba Bano, Vice Principal G.D.C. Sogam and D.F.O Social Forestry Division Kupwara, Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Bhat.
On the occasion, 65 NSS volunteers along with NSS Programme Officer Qaiser Bashir, HOD Botany, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, H.O.D Economics, Mohammad Rafi and Range Officer Social Forestry, Sajid Mehboob and employees from Social Forestry Department participated in the event.
The programme was started by plantation of Chinar saplings by Vice Principal and D.F.O. Social Forestry followed by plantation drive by volunteers and Social Forestry staff. More than 500 saplings of different species including Conifers, NRs, Poplar and fruit plants were planted during the said event.
The programme concluded with the distribution of mementos to D.F.O Social Forestry Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Bhat and Range Officer Social Forestry Sajid Mehboob for their extraordinary contribution in organizing the said event as well as for their afforestation efforts in the area.