Stand for Survival: Plant a Tree with the CM this World Forestry Day
File photo of Delhi CM Sheila Dixit planting a sapling at the Aravali Biodiversity Park on the International Biodiversity Day in 2010. Also seen is the Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Mehta
World Forestry Day is celebrated around the world on 21 March each year as people take time to consider the benefits of forests to the community – such as catchment protection, providing habitat for plants, areas for recreation, education and scientific study, and as a source of many products including timber and honey. World Forestry Day also aims to provide opportunities for people to learn how forests can be managed and used sustainably for these many purposes. The day is therefore observed to offer information on key facets of forestry: protection, production and recreation.
In its attempt to reemphasize the need for conservation and preservation of our forests, the Department of Environment, Govt. of NCT of Delhi is celebrating the Forestry Day on 21st March, 2011 with a ceremonial plantation at Pocket 1, Near Salimgarh Fort, Ring Road Bypass by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Sheila Dixit. The plantation will take place at 10.00 am. Flowering and fruit bearing trees such as Neem, Jamun, Shisham, Bamboo and other ornamental plants will be planted by the DoE, GNCT to commemorate the day. The DoE invites the citizens of Delhi to join in the plantation programme and come and grow at least one tree with the CM.
The Central Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) also has plans for the day and will be screening a film show at the National Science Center on Bhairon Road inside the Pragati Maidan campus at 1.00 pm here in New Delhi. This will be followed by an address by the Hon’ble Minister of Environment & Forests (I/c) Shri Jairam Ramesh at the National Zoological Park (NZP, Zoo) on Mathura Road at 3.00 pm (Entry by invitation only, invites available at the Security Office of the NZP.
A forest just doesn’t mean trees only but it’s an entire complex, living community. Its protection is therefore not just essential for our survival but also complex requiring interdisciplinary efforts and measures. It is for this reason that the United Nations has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests. This has been done mainly to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests across the world. Forests are also the reservoir of biodiversity and a healthy forests in turn means healthy biodiversity. In the changing climate scenario of today, forests are the foundation on which the survival and sustainability of all nations directly depends. Delhi Greens hopes that the World Forestry Day 2011 will work to get across this message to people, policy makers and government at large.
