The Orissa Environment Society (OES) and the Trident Academy of Technology, Bhubaneswar, jointly held a seminar on the occasion of observing the Van Mohatsav here, where the experts opined for a greater commitment to protect trees and spread green cover.
Trident Group executive director Dr Rabi Narayan Satpathy presided over the meeting where Orissa High Court Judge Justice Bijaya Kumar Nayak attended as chief guest.
He discussed on the provisions in the Constitution of India on protection of environment and the duties of the citizens.
Environmentalist Dr Sundar Narayan Patra joining as guest recited a poem on the special qualities of different trees. Former Chief Conservator of Forest Dr Debabrata Swain underscored the need to save the biodiversity.
Chief speaker Jaya Krushna Panigrahi expressed grave concern citing that about 55,600 trees are being cut every minute across the globe for various needs of human beings. He said fast destruction of the green coverage has been the main reason behind the growth of green house gases in air, global warming and climate change.
There need to be qualitative growth in of the environment and for a secure future of the coming generation, plantation of trees has to be converted to a mass movement, said Dr Panigrahi.
Prof Manas Ranjan Senapati gave a vote of thanks. A plantation programme was organized where scores of nature lovers, environmentalists and intellectuals joined.