The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department has unveiled an ambitious plan to plant 1.5 crore saplings upto March end this financial year, aiming to improve the region's green cover and mitigate climate change.

 Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF/HoFF) S.K. Gupta, announced the initiative during a plantation drive at Ompora city forest.

 Addressing recent concerns over increased forest fires, PCCF attributed the incidents to a prolonged dry spell. He said that swift action by forest officials had prevented significant damage.

 The department is also taking steps to strengthen its workforce by referring vacancies to the SSRB for recruitment, he stated.

In a move to support local farmers and expand tree cover outside designated forest areas, the Social Forestry Department distributed male poplar clones.

PCCF highlighted the importance of integrating modern techniques into nursery management, releasing a pamphlet prepared by DFO Budgam to guide best practices. He also inspected the Forest nursery in Budgam, stressing the need for raising tall conifer plants.

While underlining that community involvement is crucial to protect and expand our forests, PCCF urged residents to participate in the plantation drives.

The event saw the participation of civil society members, NGOs, and senior forest officials, including Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir Irfan Rasool, Regional Wildlife Warden Kashmir Tawheed Deva and Regional Director Social Forestry Zahid Moghul.