Climate change is a serious problem and its effects have also been seen in Uttarakhand in recent decades. The State’s principal chief conservator of forests, Dr Srikant Chandola said this at the inauguration of a two-day workshop on Stocktaking for Sub-National Adaptation Planning (SSNAP) for Climate Change in Uttarakhand organised by the Forest Department with support from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), Acclimatise, Central Himalayan Environment Association (CHEA) and the Wildlife Institute of India.
Addressing the gathering of scientists, departmental officials, subject experts and representatives of voluntary organisations at WII, the PCCF appreciated the role of such workshops for assessing Uttarakhand’s current needs and capabilities for managing climate change.
Acclimatise CEO John Firth made a presentation on the Uttarakhand Action Plan on Climate Change (UAPCC) and the vulnerability assessment process in Uttarakhand. WII director VB Mathur stressed on the importance of evidence collection in works related to climate change. The WII had been focusing on climate change and marine biodiversity especially in recent years, he added. Jennifer Steeves and Anu Jogesh from Acclimatise introduced the participants to the SSNAP assessment exercise and their role in it. PCCF Jairaj, additional PCCF Rajiv Bhartari, representatives of CDKN, CHEA and other organisations were also present on the occasion. The participants answered a questionnaire and raised varied issues during the deliberations on the first day of the workshop. The State’s principal secretary of Forests, Dr Ranbir Singh will be the chief guest at the conclusion of the workshop on Thursday.
It should be mentioned here that SSNAP is aimed at capturing the perceptions of Government and non-Government decision makers who are involved in the State’s planning process.