Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment, Javed Ahmed Rana, today felicitated the officers and staff of the Wildlife Department for their exemplary efforts in conservation during a special event held at Dachigam National Park.
The felicitation follows Dachigam National Park being declared the highest-scoring protected area in India, achieving an outstanding 92.97% in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
Present at the event were MLA Salman Ali Sagar, Commissioner Secretary Sheetal Nanda, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Suresh Kumar Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden Sarvesh Rai, senior officers, NGO representatives, staff, and trainees.
In his address, Minister Rana praised the unwavering commitment of forest officials, wildlife experts, and local communities. He said that the achievement reflects excellence in biodiversity conservation, ecological management, staff efficiency, and community engagement, setting a national benchmark for other protected areas.
Highlighting growing environmental challenges, Rana stressed the need to respect ecological boundaries. He said that climate crises at both national and international levels are linked to ecological imbalances caused by unchecked human activity. Given J&K’s rich natural resources, he emphasized the added responsibility to preserve ecological dignity.
The Minister also noted a positive development — the increase in Hangul population, with 323 individuals recorded in the March 2025 survey, describing it as a viable and hopeful number.
He reaffirmed the Omar Abdullah-led Government’s commitment to eco-tourism, biodiversity monitoring, and habitat restoration.
The event also saw the inauguration of the Wildlife Research & Training Centre and launch of a mandatory one-day training on Wildlife Laws for officers.
Additionally, the Minister released a booklet titled “Insights to Wildlife Health” and a Scroll of Honour to mark the occasion.
MLA Salman Ali Sagar stressed the need to raise community awareness regarding conservation efforts, while Commissioner Secretary Sheetal Nanda called the achievement a proud moment and emphasized the need for continued vigilance amid development pressures.
PCCF Suresh Kumar Gupta acknowledged existing conservation challenges and called for replication of best practices across all protected areas in Jammu and Kashmir.