Srinagar, May 26 :The District Legal Services Authority, Ganderbal in Collaboration with Faculty of Forestry -SKUAST-K Benhama Ganderbal celebrated “International Bio-Diversity Day 2022” at SKUAST, Kashmir, Benhama Ganderbal. The Programme was held under the guidance of “Ms. Tabasum” Secretary District Legal Services Authority Ganderbal & Prof. S. A Gangoo, Dean, FOF, Benhama, Ganderbal organised a day long seminar on International Biodiversity-2022.
The occasion was Chaired by Prof. S. A. Gangoo, Dean Faculty of Forestry, O.P Sharma(Retd. PCCF, J&K Forest Dept.) was the Chief Guest on the occasion, Tabasum, Hon’ble Secretary DLSA, Ganderbal was the guest of the honour Gh. Rasool Rather Advocate, DLSA, Ganderbal, Owais Mir, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sindh Forest Division, faculty members and students participated in the said program. The Programme was coordinated by organizing secretaries Dr. Naseem Zafar Geelani(Head SBS & SWO), Dr. Sabeena Nabi , Dr. Tahir Mushtaq ,Assistant Professors at FoF SKUAST-K.
Prof. Sajad A Gangoo in his welcome address said that we should take pledge to save our environment and forests , it will in turn save our future and the theme of International Biodiversity day is “Building a shared future for all the life”. We have to take care of all the life which exists on our planet.
O.P. Sharma on the occasion gave brief introduction and significance of the International Biodiversity day and said that we should remember all the days which are having ecological importance, it may be earth day, water day, soil day , world forestry day. By remembering these days we definitely will be cautious in future regarding our biodiversity. He said that we should remember the species by its local name so that local people will be more careful towards its conservation. He pointed few names which are having local importance in the local flora.
Tabasum, on the occasion said that we are happy to celebrate this day at Faculty of Forestry which is most appropriate place for this celebration because the faculty is doing a lot for the conservation of the Biodiversity. She spoke on the Biodiversity conservation and role of women.
Women need to be equally and actively involved in processes to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity because they play critical roles as primary land managers and resource users, and they face disproportionate impacts both from biodiversity loss and gender-blind conservation measures. For example, while women in many countries are increasingly taking on responsibility for managing small-scale agriculture, they do not have an equivalent voice in decision-making related to land use, nor equal access to needed resources. Biodiversity loss also poses a disproportionate burden for women and girls by increasing the time required to obtain necessary resources such as water, fuel wood, and medicinal plants, which reduces the time they can spend on income generating activities and education.
Gh Rasool Rather, Advocate DLSA threw light on the Biodiversity and role of State Legal services and Biodiversity Act and laws applicable in J&K.
Owais Mir said that the department is doing everything for the preservation and conservation of our Biodiversity and the need of the hour is that we should take concrete measures for the conservation .
Students namely Sadiya Zargar, Farhana Manzoor, Suhail Bilal and Jannat Javid enthusiastically participated and deliberated on significance of Biodiversity conservation and its religious aspect. The event successfully ended with a conclusion of Sustainable Use of Biodiversity for sustaining the Life on mother earth. Dr Syed Naseem Geelani said Biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better. He thanked all the dignitaries on the occasion and DLSA for collaborating in the program.
