CoF, SFC reviews working of Forest Department in Shopian Forest Division

Says Green India Mission has produced remarkable achievements in South Kashmir

SHOPIAN, September 13: The Conservator of Forests (CoF) South Forest Circle (SFC), Irfan Ali Shah reviewed working of Forest Department in Shopian Forest Division, deliverance of Government work and the targets set for the current financial year in a meeting held at Padpawan Forest Complex.

The CoF interacted at length with the Forest Officers and Forest frontline staff, on various Deliverables, schemes and Government programs in forestry sector including Green J&K Drive, Green India Mission, Har Gaon Hariyali, Non Timber Forest Products policy implementation, Forests for recreation, fodder, livelihood, development of eco-tourism etc.

The CoF said “Green India mission is one of the missions that come under the umbrella of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Every country has an obligation to arrest the downward spiral of climate change. Hence, India as a responsible growing global power took up the responsibility of reducing the deleterious effects of climate change by launching different missions under NAPCC. Accordingly Green India Mission was launched in Shopian in the year 2021 to protect, restore and enhance forest cover”.

He said our focus in Shopian is to increase the quality of degraded moderately dense forests and to ecologically restore open forests which have suffered degradation here due to different reasons. He added that Grasslands and wetlands revival are other focus areas under this mission.

The CoF informed that during the year 2022-23, 39350 numbers of plants were planted in the already fenced up areas with financial implication of Rs 6.786 lacs.

He said in tune with Government initiatives on generation of livelihoods, the Forest Department in the last two years is also focusing on an increase in forest-based livelihood incomes for hundreds of households in and around the forest areas.

He said the Green India Mission implementation mechanism in Shopian is quite robust and largely democratic in nature. At the district level, the implementation is being done by the Forest Development Agency. The Gram Sabha and various committees are the key institutions for planning and implementation at the village level and works are being done through Village Forest Committees here.

The CoF informed that with long-term goals, the Green India Mission in Shopian District has the capability to fight the evils of food insecurity, climate change, water scarcity and livelihood insecurity of local and Tribal communities here.

The meeting among others was attended by Mohammad Ayub Sheikh, Divisional Forest Officer, Shopian Forest Division, Gh. Nabi Chohan, Range Officer Romshi, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, Range Officer Shopian, Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Range Officer, Soil Conservation Range Shopian, Foresters of different forest blocks.