Monday, 02 September 2024 |PNS | DEHRADUN
The Himalayan Conservation Week began at the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) following its inauguration through a video message from the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Hailing the Himalayas as the State’s identity, culture and lifeline, he exhorted all to help in preserving the beauty and rich biodiversity of the Himalayas for future generations. Further, he announced that September 2 would be observed as Bugyal Conservation Day every year while describing the Bugyals as precious heritage of the Himalayas.
In his address, the director general, UCOST Prof Durgesh Pant highlighted that the Bugyals are not just endowed with divine beauty but these serve as crucial ecosystems for biodiversity and livelihood. The noted environmentalist Anil Prakash Joshi urged collective and individual efforts to protect the Himalayas, saying that focus should be shifted from problem to the solution.
Senior Indian Forest Service officer Dharm Singh Meena gave a presentation on the Bugyal conservation efforts undertaken by the Uttarkashi district forest department, highlighting that the campaign has reduced soil erosion and rejuvenated natural beauty. The principal chief conservator of forests Dhananjay Mohan noted that the Bugyals mitigate the impacts of climate change.
