Institutions, voluntary organisations and activists will be attending public meets and deliberations across India to commemorate Himalaya Day on Monday. In Dehradun, the main event will be attended by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna while institutions including the Forest Research Institute, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Botanical Survey of India and other establishments will also be holding deliberations to mark the occasion.
Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) founder Dr Anil Joshi, who is among those heading the initiative said, events will be held in about 300 places across the nation to mark Himalaya Day. “I, myself am attending the programme at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna will preside over the meet to be held in Dehradun. A silent march will be carried out before this meet in Doon. Apart from this, various institutions will also be holding meets on the occasion and we will draft a resolution based on the conclusions reached in the various meets held on Monday,” he said.
Scientists and environmentalists point out that the Himalayan ecosystem is facing challenges like population growth, natural resources degradation, stress on ecosystems, climate change, melting glaciers and increasing disaster risks. There is a need for adopting a strategy for sustainable development of human settlements, conservation and protection and strengthening of ecosystems and natural resources while working to mitigate disaster risk and population growth.
To discuss these issues and find out strategic ideas for protection of Himalayan ecosystem, Forest Research Institute will hold a panel discussion on conservation of Himalayan ecosystems and sustainable development in Uttarakhand. The State Princpipal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr RBS Rawat will be the chief guest while experts participating in the panel discussion will express their views and suggest some strategy for protection of Himalayan ecosystem and sustainable development. Other events will also be held here and in other institutions in Dehradun.
It should be mentioned here that in 2010, noted environmentalist Sundar lal Bahuguna, activist Radha Behan and Anil Joshi had launched a movement which saw September 9 being celebrated as Himalaya Day. The theme of the fourth Himalaya Day is ‘Save Himalaya, Save Self’.