Chief Minister Harish Rawat stressed on the importance of conserving nature for conservation of life. He emphasised on the need for taking collective efforts to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict in the State. The CM said this after formally inaugurating the Wildlife Week-2014 in Dehrdaun on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Rawat said it is important to link forests with the economy of the State. “This is the time for dedication and commitment. We will have to work with collective responsibility for conservation of nature. Uttarakhand has three times more than the national average of forest area, world heritage sites and national parks where we are trying to conserve and nurture. Better coordination is needed to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict. The best forester is one who can maintain this coordination,” said Rawat. The CM further pointed out that villages near forests are economically backward though the State has valuable resources. Terming poverty a major pollution, he said that resolving poverty would eradicate various other types of pollution. Rawat said that Uttarakhand’s natural heritage is its pride and exhorted the gathering for collective efforts to maintain this.The CM reiterated the need for considering measures for mitigating the human-wildlife conflict and linking forests with economy. On the occasion the Chief Minister also released a first day cover issued by India Post to mark 25 years of the creation of Gangotri National Park. Earlier the CM also visited an exhibition based on wildlife.
Addressing the gathering, State Forest Minister Dinesh Aggarwal said that in Uttarakhand the wildlife and environment are linked to the life of the people. The State Government is working to make forests the main base of economy in Uttarakhand, he added. The principal chief conservator of forests, SS Sharma, PCCF Veena Sekhari, chief wildlife warden DVS Khati and others were also present on the occasion. It should be noted here that during the Wildlife Week to be commemorated till October 7, school children will be allowed free entry at the Malsi Deer Park in Dehradun and the zoos in Nainital and Almora. Apart from this various activities are also planned by the department to mark the Wildlife Week.