A first for a J&K institution, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir is holding capacity building training for all-India service officers. SKUAST-K is conducting a three-day training program on ‘Climate Mitigation and Biodiversity Conservation’ for Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers from across the country.
Described as a ‘Conclave of Change Makers’, the event is organised by SKUAST-K’s Division of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Horticulture and sponsored by Research and Training Wing of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The 13 participating IFS executives nominated by the Union Ministry of Environment with an aim to enhance their understanding and create actionable strategies for environmental protection and bio-diversity conservation.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force for Jammu and Kashmir, Suresh Kumar Gupta, who was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session, said climate change is a reality and a challenge. “We all are seeing it happening and have to work together so that we can circumvent it,” he stressed.
Gupta said J&K is blessed with mountains, meadows, water bodies with rich flora and fauna and conserving it is the responsibility of all. He said J&K’s 54% of geographical area is forests as per a recent report. 11.5% of the geographical area of the UT is under protected area network. Among the four national parks, in three there is no human habitation. We have 14 wildlife centuries, 30 conservation reserves. Out of the 30, 14 are wetland conservation reserves. There are five Ramsar sites and J&K is fourth in the country to have Ramsar sites. He said J&K has witnessed increase of about 400 square kilometers in the forest cover from 2013 to 2023.
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, who was the Guest of Honour on the occasion, said the university has a strong footing as far as the forestry, wildlife and climate change issues are concerned. Besides food, nutrition and economic security and equity and inclusion, the ecosystem sustainability is equally important, he said. “If we do agriculture, it has not to be at the cost of the ecosystem and the environment and we are fully aware of it as an institution.”
Prof Ganai said north Himalayan region is rich in aromatic and medicinal plants but due to rampant extraction there is danger that those species may disappear. Therefore, we must look for the ways to cultivate these precious plants, which only grow in forest areas. Therefore, need of the hour is that we move from conservation to production, he added.
Dr Javeed Iqbal Ahmad Bhat, head Division of Basic Science and Course Director of the training hailed the participating IFS officers, who have journeyed from diverse ecosystems including "vibrant tiger reserves, dense biodiversity hotspots, critical wildlife corridors, and community-conserved forests" across states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Telangana. Their presence, as described by the organizers, transforms the event into a "conclave of change-makers."
Over the three days, the program is designed to be a platform for sharing on-ground success stories and engaging in solution-driven dialogues. Beyond interactive sessions, the participants will gain firsthand experience with key ecosystems of the region. They will visit the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, led by Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Prof. Arshad Mugal, and the Dachigam National Park, a culturally and ecologically vital lifeline of Kashmir, led by Dean Students Welfare, Prof. Sajad Ahmad Gangoo.
The program, sanctioned by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), aligns with the national iGOT Karmayogi initiative. This platform is designed to transform civil servants from "Karamchari" (employee) to "Karmayogi" (a work-yogi), who sees their work not just as a job but as selfless service, making them "future ready."
