Excelsior Correspondent
Akhnoor, Nov 16: In a proposed series of Winter ‘Tree Talks’ in Jammu and its environs, 316th Winter Tree Talk was today hosted in Forest Guard Training School Doomi where forest guards , Green activists and subject matter specialists under the patronage of O P Sharma Vidyarthi well known Green writer and Tree Talk activist participated in the woodland walk and tree talk event highlighting age old reverence of trees and cultivation of multi-purpose agroforestry trees to get health and climatic benefits.
‘Green’ lawyer Nadeem Qadri from Kashmir highlighted legal provisions available to conservationists and punishments prescribed for violation of wildlife, forest and environmental acts. Green resources need to be managed in a professional manner for sustainable community benefits and regulate climate extremes.
Prof Yash Pal Mycologist from Botany Department highlighted role of lesser known microbes bacteria and fungi in maintaining healthy growth of conifer and broadleaved forest trees. Quoting the example of Yew Taxus wallichiana and brevifolia he shared that endophytes present inside trees are responsible for useful medecinal phytochemicals exploited by pharmaceutical industry.
Om Prakash Vidyarthi, CCF Forest Demarcation highlighted that growing population and sqeezing land resources demand innovative strategies to curb diversion of agricultural and forest lands to non-agricultural and non-forestry purposes as God made ecosystems harbour richer spectrum of biodiversity and land diversion leads to not only loss of green cover but also severe water retaining capacity causing severe climate extremes for the states and nations.
Manjit Singh, Vasudev, P K Wattal, Rakesh Abrol and other experts shared their valuable inputs on cultural, religious and medecinal significance of trees like Chandan, Jamun, Sita Ashok, Sohanjana, Rudraksh, Marorephali, Tinbru, Jiyopota, Balamkheera, Amaltas, Agnimantha, Parijat, Harad, Amla and Baheda in the traditional and modern perspective.
On the occasion medecinal plant saplings of Laung and Rudraksh were planted to mark 316th Tree Talk.
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