3-day festival on environment, wildlife begins in Leh

Leh, Sep 11 (UNI) The 3rd CMC Vatavaran-2008 environment and wildlife festival on climate change began here from today.

The festival jointly organized by CMS, World Wide Fund for Nature India and Department of Wildlife Protection of the state will travel to different cities of the country.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Wildlife Warden, A K Srivastava, said the festival which started from Leh will travel to Agartala, Bhopal, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Pune and Ranchi and would conclude in January 2009.

He said the festival would provide a unique opportunity to students, individuals, film makers, environmentalists, corporate organisations, government officials and scientists to interact and make a network for enhanced cooperation, knowledge and expertise exchange.

The festival will have seminars, symposiums, panel discussions, film screening, climate change exhibitions, expert talks and competitions based on the festival theme to create awareness among the general public about the issue.

He said in Leh, a Seminar on ''Conservation of High Attitude Wetlands'' and a panel discussion by children on ''Environmental Concerns of Ladakh'' are the other highlights of the festival.

A painting competition on the theme ''Bio-diversity of Ladakh'' besides, climate expo, climate change exhibition and film bazaar would also be organized during the 3-day festival.

Mr Srivastava expressed the hope that the festival will go a long way in disseminating the conservation message among the masses and raising awareness about environmental issues among the armed forces by involving Indian Army and ITBP in the festival.

UNI BAS QAB SY HS1228