In order to increase green cover as well as protect wildlife, Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, on World Environment Day announced that urban forestry has taken up an initiative wherein a massive tree plantation drive would be organised in 200 cities and towns all across the country to increase the green cover and protect wildlife. In this tree plantation drive, 6000 saplings would be planted in about 80 acres of land in order to create an Urban Forest.
Javadekar expressed concern by citing that cities and towns have gardens and parks but there is a lack of forests. Many cities have secured land appointed by the forest department but either there are no forests in those areas or they are not upgraded. He said that this limitation can be overcome by making people participate in creating an urban jungle. Environment Minister has come up with a unique idea to increase people’s participation in this initiative. He has urged people to plant trees and then click their selfies that they can post on the site wedselfie.nic.in
As this year’s World Environment Day theme is ‘Go Wild For Life’, the agenda taken up by the Environment Minister is also to protect the wild life. For this the Government has already begun World Environment’s Day celebrations by launching Asia’s first Vulture Re-introduction Programme in Haryana at Pinjore.
Javadekar maintained that vultures are actual volunteers for Swachch Bharat Mission. However, since 1990 they have become an endangered species and with passage of time their population has dropped drastically from 4 crores to less than 4 lakhs.
He also urged the citizens to stop buying products made from animals’ skin. In order to put an end to poaching, government has ordered the armed guards at Kaziranga National Park in Assam to shoot at sight the poachers. This initiative has led to the death of 24 poachers till now.
The Environment Minister released a new leaflet ‘Living With The Leopards’, during a function. It aims to minimise danger to people at large. This leaflet holds special utility for people residing in North Mumbai suburbs that are near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. People from this area have reported incidents of leopard entering their houses every now and then.
The leaflet contains a few do’s and don’ts through which people can reduce danger to themselves and can live with the leopards. These tips are:
- People have to accept the fact that leopards are the residents of the area and their mere sighting does not translate into danger.
- Leopards do not recognise our kind of boundaries, forest areas and housing colonies.
- Children should be supervised by adults, especially after dark.
- One should not move about alone after dark. If necessary, one can play music on one’s mobile phones. This will help the leopards to realise that there are humans around. Being sensitive and shy the leopards on their own will avoid contact with humans.
- If a leopard is sighted, it should be given way and allowed to move out peacefully.
- If a leopard is sighted, do not form a crowd around it. Mob behavior will lead the animal to become panicky and it will possibly harm someone in its effort to escape.
- Garbage disposal should be effectively ensured and dogs should be kept indoors.
- The Forest Department is the sole authority to deal with any leopard related incident. Promptly call the control room.
News Source: PIB
Image Source: YI (Representational Image Only)
