“It is a prime duty of everyone to conserve the precious green wealth and achieving the objective of saving the natural habitats of animals and the green cover will be distant dream, till the people don’t come forward voluntarily to carry out afforestation drives and spread the message to the next generation”, said Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh while speaking on the occasion of State level Wild Life Week function organized by the Wild Life Wing of the Forest Department, here today.
He said that many endangered wild life species and flora and fauna were on the verge of extinction. He said that earnest efforts had been made in conserving the wildlife reserves by imposing complete ban on hunting in 1983 and green felling in 1984 when he first time became the Chief Minister of the State. This had helped increasing the green cover and preservation of the flora and fauna besides providing safe natural habitats to the wild animals.
He said that for safeguarding the interest of the human beings there were many organizations right below from the Panchayat level but it was the duty of every human being to protect the wildlife and our green reserves and other natural resources.
The Chief Minister said that State’s initiatives to conserve wild life had been noteworthy. Today, the improved population of few endangered species and growing green cover was the result of the policies of the State Government for conserving the environment and our forest wealth. He said that as a firm step towards rejuvenation and protection of forest and wild life, the forest department had been breeding species of Cheer Pheasant, Monal and Western Tragopan.
It was a matter of great pride that after rationalization process, as many as 775 villages had been excluded from the sanctuary areas benefitting more than one lakh people. As a result, the forest area had been increased from 13 to 15 percent, more than the National average. He said that after rationalization of Wild Life areas, there were now three Conservation Reserves, Five National Parks and 26 Wild life Sanctuaries in the State and 15.4 percent of the total geographical area had been brought under Protection Area Network whereas National Average was around 4.7 percent.
He said that the Great Himalayan National Park had been declared as the World Heritage Reserve by UNESCO, which was due to the concerted efforts of the State Government which had moved the statute for conserving and preserving our forest wealth and wildlife.
He stressed the need for being more efficient and to accelerate the drive for containing monkey menace. He directed the department to work seriously in this direction.
“We should also take care of the natural wealth along with carrying out development activities in the State”, he said and exhorted the youth to co-ordinate with the forest departments efforts for conserving the habitats of the wild animals and together contribute in protecting the green areas of the State.
The Chief Minister also released souvenir on the occasion.
He also distributed prizes to the winners of the various competitions held during the weeklong Wild Life Week.
Shri Sushil Srivastva, PCCF detailed about the weeklong activities undertaken by the department while celebrating the Wild Life Week. He said that an International Workshop was organized in Shimla by Wild Life Conservation Society in collaboration with Wild Life Conservation Society, Maharashtra to study man-animal conflict issues and explore possible solutions.
Shri Tarun Shridhar, Principal Secretary Forests and Shri Lalit Mohan Chief Wild Life Warden welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Nand Lal on the occasion.
Chief Conservator Shri P.L Chauhan proposed vote of thanks.
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