Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said here on Sunday that in an effort to create “urban forests”, his Ministry would be undertaking massive tree plantation drive in as many as 200 cities and towns across the country.
Speaking at a function organised at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park at Borivli in north Mumbai to commemorate the World Environment Day, Javadekar said, “Urban forestry is the new thrust area and we will be taking up massive tree plantation drive in as many as 200 cities and towns across the country.
Javadekar said that his Ministry would launch the ‘Urban Forestry Scheme’ in Pune, where 6,000 saplings will be planted to create an ‘urban jungle’ on about 80 acres of land.
“There are many cities where the forest department has its land but there are no forests on it or are degraded. In these places through people’s participation, we will establish urban forestry,+” the Minister said.
Stressing that the green mission could succeed only through active peoples participation, the Minister urged the citizens to plant trees, take a selfie and share photographs on ‘wedselfie.nic.in’.
Alluding to this year’s theme of the World Environment Day — “Go Wild For life”, Javadekar underlined the Government’s resolve for protection of wild-life. He said the Government began this year’s World Environment Day celebrations by launching Asia’s first Vulture Re-introduction Programme at Pinjore in Haryana. “Vultures — the true Swachchh Bharat volunteers — have become endangered since 1990, after eating carcasses of cattle which were injected with Diclofenac — a pain killer drug. We had more than 4 crore vultures in the country, now not even 4 lakh are left,” he said.
On the wildlife protection, Javadekar asserted that trade in wildlife products should be completely stopped. “My appeal to the people not to buy any product made from wild animal body parts. If there is no market for the products, poaching will end automatically,” he remarked.
The Minister symbolically burnt the confiscated wildlife products in the open, to send a message to end the wildlife trafficking.
Among other things, he said that the Government had initiated proactive measures for protection of wildlife and that ‘shoot at sight’ orders given to armed guards at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam had resulted in the death of 24 poachers.. “
Javadekar said with better understanding and awareness man and wildlife could live in harmony. He said most of tribals, who live on the edges of forests, lived in harmony with nature.
On the occasion, the minister released a leaflet “living With The leopard” that lists out practical tips to minimize danger to ourselves. The leaflet is of utmost utility for the residents of North Mumbai suburbs adjacent to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park area, where incidents of leopard entering housing colonies are frequently reported.