By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 2 Sep: The Himalayan Conservation Week began with great enthusiasm at the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), here, today. The event was inaugurated with a video message from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The Chief Minister emphasised, “The Himalayas are our identity, culture, and lifeline. It is our duty to preserve the beauty and rich biodiversity of the Himalayas for future generations.”
The Chief Minister announced that 2 September will be observed as Bugyal Conservation Day, marking it as a significant step towards raising awareness and commitment to Himalayan conservation. He described Bugyals as precious heritage of the Himalayas and emphasised that their conservation is a collective responsibility.
The programme began with a welcome address by Prof Durgesh Pant, Director General, UCOST who highlighted that the magnificent Bugyals, a world heritage of the Himalayas, are not only filled with beauty but also serve as crucial ecosystems for biodiversity and livelihood. He also shared his thoughts on preserving the natural beauty of the Himalayas.
The keynote speaker of the event, Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Anil Prakash Joshi, stated that protecting the Himalayas is everyone’s moral duty. He emphasised that Bugyal conservation is also important for local communities. Dr Joshi urged collective and individual efforts to protect the Himalayas and encouraged a focus on solutions rather than problems.
Padma Shri awardee Kalyan Singh Rawat said that Bugyals are divine, and their conservation is a sacred task that connects us with our culture, traditions and environment. He stressed the need to make this a part of life to preserve the priceless beauty of Mother Nature for future generations. Dr GS Rawat, Emeritus Scientist, UCOST, provided insights into the various types of Bugyals and their characteristics during his presentation, explaining that Bugyals are grassy vegetation located in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, where the unique blend of natural beauty and biodiversity can be found.
IFS officer Dharm Singh Meena, Forest Conservator, gave a presentation on the Bugyal conservation efforts undertaken by the Forest Department in Uttarkashi district, highlighting that the campaign has reduced soil erosion and rejuvenated natural beauty. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr Dhananjay Mohan described Bugyals as a unique region of Uttarakhand and noted that they play a special role in mitigating the impacts of climate change. On this occasion, he also announced the formation of a committee to develop a detailed plan for every aspect of Bugyal conservation.
At the conclusion of the programme, Dr Gajendra Singh, Scientist, USAC, was honoured with the ‘Giri Ganga Gaurav Award’ by the Maiti organisation for his significant scientific contributions to the Himalayan region in recent years. During the event, winners of the Alpine Meadows Photography Competition organised by UCOST and the Maiti organisation were also awarded. The first prize was given to Chinar Sharma, the second prize to Srishti Joshi, and the third prize to Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi and Mahipal Singh Gariya. Consolation prizes were awarded to Mahesh Painuli and Dr Gajendra Singh.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr DP Uniyal, Joint Director, UCOST. The event was hosted by Kanchan Dobhal, Scientific Officer, UCOST, and saw participation of over 150 students, teachers, officials from UCOST and Regional Science Centre, as well as experts and scientists from various institutions.
