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I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at JAMMU: As part of the annual Wildlife Week celebrations held each year from October 2–8, the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Protection, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, organized a series of activities aimed at promoting awareness about wildlife conservation and the significance of biodiversity protection in and around Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve on October 03, 2025.
Around thirty-five postgraduate students along from the department participated in three major events - a cleanliness drive around the wetland, nature walk and bird watching, and a short speech competition. During the visit, Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Associate Professor, provided insights into the history and development of the Gharana Wetland, explaining its designation as an Important Bird Area and illustrating its ecological importance through facts about the transboundary and elevational bird visitors.
Situated along the Central Asian Flyway, this 80-acre wetland provides critical habitat for over 35 species of waterbirds and an equal number of wetland-associated species. The adjoining agricultural mosaic further supports more than 160 bird species, including a variety of raptors, he added. The students identified the bird species based on their morphological features and uploaded the checklists to eBird, an online citizen science database.
Following the bird observation activity, the students undertook a cleanliness drive across the wetland to reinforce the message of conservation through action. A short speech competition on this year’s theme ‘Wildlife conservation finance: Investing in people and planet’ was held among the postgraduate students. Displaying excellent articulation and understanding of the theme, Ms. Haspreet Kour won the first prize, followed by Ms. Ankita Shan, and Mohd. Ayub Jaan, who secured the second and third positions, respectively.
The field activities and the speech contest were coordinated by Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Dr. Anshu Gupta and Dr. Suresh Kumar. Speakingon the ocassion, Prof. Deepika Slathia, Head, Department of Environmental Sciences, emphasized the importance of research and scientific outreach in driving the conservation initiatives.
She emphasized that meaningful conservation cannot be achieved without the participation of local communities and stressed the essential role of community awareness in promoting such initiatives. Prof. Slathia encouraged students to actively participate in education and outreach programmes related to wildlife conservation, noting that sites like the Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve serve as ideal destinations for such experiential learning and community-based conservation actions.
She appreciated the efforts of the Department of Wildlife Protection, with a special mention of Sh. Vijay Kumar, Wildlife Warden, Jammu, and Range Officers Sh. Dheeraj Rampaul and Sh. Roshan Lal, for organizing the meaningful event, and conveyed her gratitude for their continued partnership and support.
Following the activities at Gharana, the students visited the Octroi Post at Suchetgarh, which evoked a wave of enthusiasm and patriotism during their first-ever visit to this landmark of national pride. Through these field-based experiences, students gained meaningful exposure to social, cultural, and environmental aspects of the area. Such activities are an integral part of the departmental curriculum, aimed at promoting comprehensive learning through hands-on engagement and real-world experiences.
