Srinagar: Jammu And Kashmir Forest Department in collaboration with the Private School Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) organised a function here at JK Public School Humhama to celebrate the International Day of Forests with the theme ‘Forests And Education’.
The Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Farooq Gillani who was the chief guest on the occasion kick-started the plantation drive at the institution.
The function was attended by the president PSAJK, G N Var, Main Javed Hussain, IFS (Retd), CF South, Tawheed Ahmad Deva, Conservator of Forest, Srinagar Circle, Irfan Ali Shah, Editor-In-Chief Ziraat Times, Arjumand Hussain Talib, Environmental Lawyer, Nayeem Qadri, Head of NGO, National Society for Protection of Water resources, Wetland and Forests Nazir Be Nazir .
The speakers stressed on the need of protection of forests and increase in green cover by planting more plants and involving civil society, school children and youth in the endeavour.
While addressing the gathering, the CCF highlighted the importance of international day of forests and laid stress on inter-relationship between forests and education. He said this year the department is going to plant 20.37 lakh plants under different schemes for rehabilitation of degraded forest areas. He said that schools will develop their own small nurseries for which forest department will render necessary technical support.
He also informed that the department has distributed 45000 plants amongst different Govt. and private schools of Kashmir region under institutional plantation programme this year. He said that the department will plant one million trees in next five years on zero budget mission.
The conservator of forests, Srinagar circle, informed that educational institutions have been the focus of institutional plantations this year in line with United Nations theme for International Day Of Forests, 2019. He also said that the department has launched three major projects including Zabarwan, Shankeracharya Hills and Hariparbat Hill Greening Project.
The president of J&K Private Schools Association Dr G N Var said that from next year March 21 all private schools will will vehemently participate in tree plantation in institutions and at other places. He said that the Association will strive to introduce plantation drive as part of school curriculum.
Principal, JK Public School Humhama Amaan in his speech lauded the efforts of the forest department in greening the educational institutions.
