Lt Governor attends International Day of Forests event at Jammu
JAMMU, MAR 21: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the International Day of Forests event organized by Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment at Convention Centre, today.
The Lt Governor called upon the people for sustainable management of forests and the judicious use of resources to combat climate change and to ensure well-being of all.
“Healthy Forests is the key to Healthy living of people and it should be our topmost priority to safeguard these precious natural resources. Every element produced by nature nourishes us. Since time immemorial, the health & well-being of humans, animals & environment around us are interlinked”, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor emphasized on striking a perfect balance between society and environment for a healthy ecosystem and a strong economy.
“Nature is a great source of wisdom. The more we learn from nature, the more we understand that forests are not only an integral part of our existence but also essential for our mental, physical health and well-being. A society that is closer to nature is more prosperous”, the Lt Governor said.
On this International Day of Forests, let us rededicate ourselves to protect nature and conserve forests with the spirit of “One World, One Health”. We must protect and nurture economic, social and environmental values for the benefit of present and future generations, the Lt Governor observed.
The Lt Governor directed the J&K Rural Livelihoods Mission to launch Van Sakhi Yojana in coordination with Forest Department for the socio-economic empowerment of the women entrepreneurs associated with the sector.
The Lt Governor asked the Forests Department and other stakeholders to ensure that policy on ‘Sustainable Utilization of Non-timber Forest Produce in J&K’ is fully operationalized on ground to maximize its benefits to the people, especially women and tribal communities.
The Lt Governor further emphasized on promoting high-value forest produce like Gucci mushroom and Artemisia herbal plant which can be found in abundance in the forests of Jammu Kashmir to bring significant improvement in the quality of life of the forest-dependent population without harming the forests.
