NEW DELHI: Union Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar, on Friday launched the Urban Forest programme on the occasion of World Environment Day and reiterated that India is able to preserve its biodiversity.
“Today is World Environment Day, and the theme is biodiversity. Despite having many constraints like only 2.5 per cent of the world’s landmass, with 16 per cent of human as well as cattle population and only 4 per cent of natural water resources, India today has nearly 8 percent of world’s biodiversity”, Mr Javadekar said while launching the programme.
In view of the prevalent situation due to COVID-19 pandemic the Ministry has held virtual celebrations of World Environment Day on this year with focus on Nagar Van (Urban Forests) and attended by junior Minister Babul Supriyo and senior officials in the Ministry.
On the programme, Mr Javadekar announced the Urban Forest scheme to develop 200 ‘Nagar Van’ across the country in next five years.
“This will help revive the age old tradition of village forest in cities”, he said and added, “Indian culture is like this, 300 people have died to protect forest in Rajasthan. In every village we have forests in the name of God. I think this is unique that people are worshiping trees, animals and worship all kinds of lives.”.
He said we have forest in rural areas but not much forest in urban areas. “While I was traveling in various places like New York, Rio de Janeiro and Nairobi and even in Mumbai we have national park.
In many cities we have developed good forests, but we need more. Therefore we have introduced the scheme of urban forest. So we need to create forest and decided today to launch our urban forest programme in 200 corporation cities of India”, he said.
He said the programme will be a good example of the PPP model with the help of the forest department, the guardian Ministers, MPs, MLAs, corporators and various private entities.
The Centre, he said, will fund to the project to an extend to compounding and to carry out minimum services there and said he has already asked authorities to map the forest land and degraded land in cities “Creating city forest will become a peoples’ movement”, the Minister added.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of World Environment Day, reiterated the country’s pledge to preserve our planet’s rich biodiversity.
“Let us collectively do whatever possible to ensure the flora and fauna with whom we share the Earth thrive. May we leave an even better planet for the coming generation”, the Prime Minister said in his message.
(AGENCIES)
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