Jammu: Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Altaf Ahmad Wani, on Thursday directed the Wildlife Protection Department to strengthen Hangul conservation and ensure a prompt response to human-wildlife conflict.
Chairing a review meeting of the Wildlife Protection Department and J&K Forest Research Institute (JKFRI) in Jammu, Wani stressed that protecting human lives and conserving wildlife must go hand in hand. He called for timely compensation, early warning systems and awareness programmes in vulnerable villages.
The Minister also directed the department to prepare a comprehensive compendium on Jammu and Kashmir’s wildlife, flora and fauna in consultation with experts.
Officials informed the meeting that J&K has 50 protected areas spread over 4,861.282 sq km, including four national parks, 14 wildlife sanctuaries, 16 conservation reserves and 16 wetland reserves. The region is home to 4,440 plant species, 111 mammals and 608 bird species, among other biodiversity.
Reviewing JKFRI’s work, Wani called for research outcomes to reach forests, farmers and local communities. The institute informed him that it had established seed banks in Jammu and Srinagar and developed cultivation protocols for medicinal plants, including Kuth, Tilpushpi, Mushkwala and Pushkarmul.
The meeting was also informed that around 30,000 Chinar trees across J&K had been geo-tagged, with QR-enabled plates installed on 10,000 prominent Chinar trees in Kashmir and 3,500 Peepal and Bargad trees in Jammu. The second phase will cover the remaining trees.
Wani also stressed involving the concerned MLAs in district-level development works to improve transparency and execution.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment Sheetal Nanda, PCCF and Head of Forest Force Sarvesh Rai, Pollution Control Committee Chairman Vasu Yadav, Chief Wildlife Warden and JKFRI Director Dr Suneesh Buxy, and other senior officers.
