FAO in India

FAOR addresses the thematic session on Himlayan Ecosystem for World Environment Day

03/06/2018
 

The global celebrations of World Environment Day 2018, being hosted by India, kicked off with a total of three thematic sessions being held at Vigyan Bhawan here today.  Reflecting the “Beat Plastic Pollution” theme of this year’s World Environment Day, the inaugural session focussed on the management of plastic pollution.  In his special address on the occasion, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma pointed out that the need of the hour is to create a social awareness, particularly among the youth, on reducing the single use of plastic and its reuse.    He said that the menace of plastic cannot be tackled till a win-win situation is created for all the stakeholders with regard to the use of plastic.  Emphasising the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility in reducing the use of plastic, the Minister gave a call to rope in the organised sector to retrieve, recycle and reuse plastic. 

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri C.K Mishra, highlighted the need to introspect on what can be done individually, as well as collectively to reduce the use of plastic.  He added that the need of the hour is to launch a strong campaign to say no to the single use of plastic.  

THEMATIC SESSION ON HIMALAYAN ECOSYSTEM

 The thematic session on the Himalayan Ecosystem was presided over by Director General &Special Secretary, MoEF&CC, Mr. Siddhanta Das, while the inaugural address was delivered by former Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Shri Hem Pande.   Among the themes discussed at the session were - 

Change makers: A waste free vision for the Himalayan States; Sharing experiences - success stories in the Himalayan Region; National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE); National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) and activities on waste management.

Case studies on waste management in the core zone of Kailash landscape, along with the waste warriors taming waste and more through forest dwellers “Van Rajis” of Kailash landscape were shared.  The challenges of solid waste, including plastic in the Himalayan landscape and some of the innovative practices from the region, which could provide a way forward in Himalayas were also highlighted.  The learning from the Himalayas, as well as the experiences ranging from ecosystem-based adaptations in mountain ecosystems and tools for assessing restoration from both Indian and Nepal Himalayas were discussed, along with landscape level conservation in the Himalayas from the 1990’s till the present day and raising awareness on the evolution of thinking and action towards landscape-based high altitude conservation in India.

The overview of the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) to support the sustenance and enhancement of the ecological, natural, cultural and socio-economic capital assets and values of the Indian Himalaya Region (IHR) were discussed along with the major areas of ongoing projects such as spring revivals, water conservation & management, river bed filtration, climate change, livelihood support, rejuvenation of orchid, utilisation of pine needles, addressing human wildlife conflict, alternative sources of energy, conserving medicinal plants and solid waste management.  In addition, microbial bio-composting was discussed as sustainable solutions of biodegradable waste, if segregated at its source of generation.   Further, the management of plastic waste and its innovative method was shared during the session on synthesis of graphene and graphene oxide from plastics.

The keynote address on the vision for Sustainable Waste Management for the Mountain States was given by Shri Prem Das, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Sikkim.  Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development (MoSD) Dr. Jyotsna Sitling, and the representative of FAO, Mr. Shyam Khadka were among those present at the inaugural session on Himalayan ecosystem.