Put together all resources to save forests, J

Srinagar, May 18 (UNI) Stressing the need for putting together all resources to save the forests wealth, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt General (Retd) S K Sinha said misutilisation and illicit felling of trees continues to be a big challenge.

He cautioned against denuded forests in the country and said that all the resources are required to be put together to meet this national challenge.

Interacting with a group of 22 Indian Forest Service probationers at Raj Bhavan last evening, the Governor called upon them to shoulder their responsibilities with a missionary zeal in ensuring the maintenance of the forests cover.

Misutilisation and illicit felling of trees continues to be a big challenge which needs to be addressed at all the levels, he said.

General Sinha said the forests contribute to maintaining the climate and conserving bio-diversity thereby helping in maintaining the quality of life.

He referred to barren mountains of Gaya, his birthplace that used to render the city very warm. It was one of the hottest places in the country, he said adding once massive afforestation was undertaken on those mountains by the Army the climate changed considerably with appreciable increase in rainfall.

He also referred to the raising of Ecological Battalions in the Territorial, which brought about a tremendous change through afforestation in Dehradun-Mussorie area and in some of the desert areas in Rajasthan.

UNI BAS FMH KK VC1105