JAMMU, Jul 28: To mark World Nature Conservation Day, the Forest Department, in collaboration with members of the Tree Talk Group and Vibe Tribe Club, Jammu, organised a Nature Walk and Tree Talk programme in the Sidhra forestlands. The event aimed to acquaint forest field staff, wilderness explorers, herbal innovators and botany experts with the rich biodiversity of the neighbourhood forests while promoting awareness about conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
The programme commenced with a ceremonial tree plantation attended by Pradeep Wahule, Conservator East Circle Anurag Arya, Divisional Forest Officer, Jammu, Bishan Das Thakur, Divisional Forest Officer, Research Division, Kalpna Vinay, Om Prakash Sharma “Vidyarthi”, founder of Tree Talk, Pooja Kapoor Suri, herbal innovator and others
During the nature walk, Om Prakash Sharma “Vidyarthi” introduced participants to the diverse flora of the Sidhra forests and highlighted the edible, medicinal and ornamental significance of several important species.
Forest field staff displayed plant specimens, edible flowers, seasonal leafy vegetables, aromatic and medicinal plants, quality saplings and an impressive range of innovative forest-based foods under the guidance of herbal innovator Pooja Kapoor Suri, Om Prakash Sharma “Vidyarthi” and Dev Raj Sharma. The exhibition featured Oleaster sauce, Tinbru chutney, Gokhru snacks, Punarnava pakodas, Commelina snacks, Trianthema pakodas, Rhododendron tea, Arjun bark tea, Mango Modak, Vidari kheer, Parijat tea, Gwalmanda dahi and several other value-added forest products, demonstrating the immense potential of sustainable utilisation of forest biodiversity.
Addressing the gathering, Pradeep Wahule emphasized that forests are vital ecosystems supporting an extraordinary diversity of plants and wildlife. He cautioned that overexploitation of natural resources leads to soil degradation, depletion of water resources and the decline of threatened species, ultimately resulting in biodiversity loss. He noted that observances such as World Mangrove Day (26 July), World Nature Conservation Day (28 July) and World Tiger Day (29 July) inspire citizens, students, researchers, forest professionals, herbal innovators and nature enthusiasts to adopt eco-friendly lifestyles, promote sustainable production and consumption, and encourage responsible harvesting and commercialization of edible and medicinal plant resources.
As part of the celebrations, participants planted a variety of indigenous and ecologically important tree species, including Butea monosperma, Bauhinia variegata,Terminalia chebula,Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera, Erythrina indica, Syzygium cumini and Sapindus mukorossi, reaffirming their collective commitment towards conserving forests strengthening the region’s green heritage.