Greens mark World Environment Day with webinars and plantation drives

Dehradun: Maintaining social distancing protocols, nature lovers on Friday marked World Environment Day with webinars and other activities. Experts participated in different webinars at different time slots, webcast on social platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. While speaking on this year’s theme — Celebrating Biodiversity — several speakers said that Covid-19 may have pushed them indoors, but it has given them a new perspective on how to handle environmental concerns.One such initiative was organised by Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) and Parmarth Niketan, in partnership with UNICEF and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was hosted by Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president of Parmarth Niketan, and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, secretary-general of GIWA.
The webinar — Moving from United Nations to a united creation: bridging science and faith is the solution — illustrated multilateral commitment to protect nature. United Nations resident coordinator in India, Renata Lok-Dessallien, said, “When we talk about bridging science and faith, especially in the context of environment, we find these bridges already exist in the most ancient of our moral codes. All sacred traditions worship nature, seek balance between human beings and ecosystems and warn against destruction of the earth’s wealth. We must use this wisdom to strengthen our global effort towards sustainable development.” Noted environmentalist Dr Sunita Narain urged the audience towards ‘green’ growth, which requires protection and sustainable use of natural resources.
Another webinar was organised by Making a Difference (MAD), in which noted environmentalists Dr Anil Joshi, Lokesh Ohri, Vandana Shiva, Parmjeet Singh Kakkar, et al, participated and emphasised on Uttarakhand’s long-pending demand for additional funds or privileges as “green bonus”, for maintaining its robust biodiversity. Also as part of the World Environment Day, a Rudraprayag forest division team collected around 500 kg of plastic from Chopta, a prominent tourist spot.Elsewhere, premiere institutions like Forest Research Institute (FRI), Wildlife Institute of India and Forest Survey of India also marked the day by conducting tree plantation drives, internal workshops and competitions. A cleanliness and sanitisation programme was organised in the FRI campus, where a bamboo pedal sanitiser was inaugurated by director of ICFRE (Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education), Dr A S Rawat.