That the forests are important to us, to our life, to our economy and health, is an established fact. A cursory look at forests in J&K, and their importance to our life, reveal that J&K has 20,194 sq km of forest area which is 47.80% of its geographical area, with 55% forest and tree cover, and 43% open forest. Our forests have highest biodiversity of herbs in the country. On the economic side, forests here generate 2 million man-days of employment, with a monetary value equivalent to Rs. 1.93 lakh crore. Globally, the emphasis on preserving forest cover, and taking up plantation drives can not be missed. At the transnational level we have seen how a global body like UN, couples with many international groups, have acted to protect forests, and rehabilitate the denuded areas by undertaking massive plantation drives. Here in J&K we also need to enhance tree cover, and save ourselves from the adverse effects of global warming. In this regard it is good to see Chief Secretary J&K, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, doing some serious discussions about forests in a meeting chaired by him. Setting targets to plant more trees is a good way of adding to the green cover. But it should be ensured that the targets are met, and there must be a follow up on every small and big decision taken in such meetings. Directing the Forest Department to constitute Village Panchayat Plantation Committees in all 4290 Panchayats is a wonderful idea. If it happens on ground and monthly dialogues are conducted with these committees to evolve region-specific sustainable models, it can contribute to a significant change on the ground. Involving communities in such endeavours brings up ever fresh energies and also puts a constant pressure on the officials of the concerned departments to accomplish the task. A multi-disciplinary convergence model that links school-level eco-clubs, Village Panchayat Plantation Committees and MGNREGA works for the purpose of plantation and protection drives is an ambitious project. All one can expect is the collaboration of the officials and the people happens in a professional and functional atmosphere. That is crucial, if the ideas are to convert into practices.
Green J&K Drive
