Kashmir University (KU) is all set to hold International Conference on Climate Change, Glacial recession and Livelihoods being jointly organized by the Government of J&K, University of Kashmir and Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi (TERI) at SKICCC from 12-14 October, 2009.
The Conference shall suggest a strategic plan that outlines the policies and actions required to be taken by different organizations in the state to mitigate and adapt to the climate change effects
Prof. Punjabi, Vice-Chancellor of the KashmirUniversity, said that there is need for coordinated efforts by the academia, Government and the civil society for developing robust strategies for adapting to the Climate Change. He said that the organization of the forthcoming International Conference on Climate Change was an important milestone in this direction.
The Impacts of Climate Change and climate variability, already evident in the region, are likely to affect different sectors of the economy and environment in our state. It is predicted that the Climate Change shall impact Himalaya’s natural resource base including water resources, forestry, agriculture and other associated sectors and thus, putting additional stress on ecological and socio-economic systems in the region, said Dr. Shakil A Romshoo, Convener of the Working Group on Climate Change Research at the University of Kashmir. It is in this backdrop that the University of Kashmir, Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi have joined hands to develop an action plan for launching mitigation and adaptation studies in the region. The strategy shall be discussed at the forthcoming The Conferences is being attended by renowned Climate change experts from national and international institutions including Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, President of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Chief Minister, Mr. Umar Abdullah and the Union Minister for Forests and Environment, Mr. Jairam Ramesh are expected to attend the Inaugural and valedictory of the Conference. The valedictory shall be held at the University of Kashmir. Various technical, plenary and breakout sessions on climate change science, prediction, impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation are scheduled during the 3-day conference. The outcome of the conference shall be announced in the form of “Srinagar Declaration” on the concluding day of the Conference.
Mr. R. D. Tiwari, Director SFRI, Govt. of J&K and convener of the Steering Committee constituted by the Government said that the Conference shall provide a platform to different segments of the society to deliberate on various aspects of climate change in the Himalayas. Noted Glaciologist and Padma Shri Prof. Iqbal Hasnain said that there is an immediate need to tackle the climate change in the region on priority as the Himalayas have tremendous ecological and socio-economic importance for the entire south Asian region.
In order to boast the Climate Change research in the region, the University of Kashmir in collaboration with the UK Met Office has recently initiated a regional experiment on studying impacts of Climate change on different sectors particulars water resources and Ecosystem services, said Dr. Romshoo. He said that it is of utmost importance that strategies are developed, on priority, to analyze the uncertainty about the nature and extent of climate change and to assess the likely impacts of the climate change on every sector in the state so that we adapt to the climate change in a phased manner.
Third fire incident in last 20 days; yet minister says thrust is being laid on preservation of environment.
By Ajmer Alam Wani
JAMMU: How unfortunate is it, when Minister for Forest and Environment, for Jammu and Kashmir Government, Mian Altaf Ahmed during a function at Srinagar appealed to the people particularly the youth to make the J&K State green and safe heaven for the rich biodiversity of the State and just hours after the appeal about 500 young green deodar and Pine trees were reportedly engulfed by fire in between Comportment No- 3 and 4 of Chiralla Forest Range in Forest Division Bhaderwah at a place known as Rankhi Faat.
Reports said that reacting to the GREEN GOLD IN DANGER news series by this reporter, forest officials have started putting restrictions on cutting of green forest wealth which is not digestible to the forest mafia operating in the state for decades thus they instead of cutting the trees have adopted another modus operands to extract the wood from forests. As per the new strategy of extracting the wood from the green jungle, the land mafia put the green trees on fire due to which green trees fell down without cutting. Once the trees fell down, the remains are used as wood while the area which is turned into desert is encroached upon by the forest land encroachment mafia and is used for agricultural activities illegally. The process continues and more and more trees are set ablaze year after year.
Reports received today late evening said that about 500 young green trees were engulfed by massive fire at Rankhi Faat which was put on by forest mafia. Reports added that the fire was spotted at at-least seven spots in between Comportment No-3 and 4 and that was spreading very fast.
Relevant to mention here that in lat 20 days, this is the third fire incident in the ChirallaForestRange while the cutting of trees continues. However; the forest officials deputed in the area have started responding but unfortunately not to protect the green trees but to fill their pockets with some money from the anti forest elements which adds more fuel to the forest fire.
The Bhaderwah Forest Division, particularly ChirallaForestRange lacks Forest Protection Force (FPF) posts and in the absence of these posts the forest mafia is going non-stop.
It has been established that forest officials at the lower level are hand-in-gloves with the forest mafia which is adding deforestation in the Bhaderwah Forest Division and forest land encroachments are on increase.
Government had setup some Village Forest Committees (VFC) but regrettably the members of VFC instead of protecting the green tree from felling are helping in cutting of the same and even some are selling the timber scants and earning at the cost mankind whose survival is dependent on forests.
The Jammu and Kashmir state has been a tragedy, if one goes by the role of successive state governments in protecting green forests since the partition of India. The slogans are raised every time. Assurances are given almost every day. Seminars, debates and competitions are organized almost every weak but the results are contrary on ground but on papers (newspapers as well as official), the results/outcome/impact etc are shown maximum as the Forest Department has done wonders.
The seminars/debates/competitions are organized mostly in cities at schools/colleges/university where intellectuals/academicians/ and scholars are taught to protect the forests. They are appealed not to cut the green trees but has anyone ever realized where the problem lies? Where the focus of Government in creating awareness about the importance of green forests is restricted to cities only; the people in higher reaches of the state are not aware about the importance of green forests. They even don’t know about the loss of cutting a green tree. The Government has to change its strategy if it really wants to protect the green forest of Jammu and Kashmir state. Instead of cities, the people living in unconnected villages need to be educated about the importance of forests and environment.
If one goes by the man-animal conflict reports, people living in villages and higher reaches have been targeted by the wild animals because they have threatened and disturbed their habitations but instead of educating these people about the cause of man-animal conflict, the Department of Wildlife Protection is celebrating Wildlife Week and the functions are being organized in cities like in Srinagar at SKICC.
Instead of involving the villagers who are more responsible for man-animal conflict, university, school and college students, local people of the city, NGOs, representatives of print and electronic media, officers of the concerned department conservationists, experts, naturalists and representative of police are invited. Will such practices help in overcoming the real problems?
Though the Minister for Forest Mian Altaf Ahmad who was speaking at a function held today at SKICC said that at present thrust is being laid on preservation of environment throughout the world adding that it would prove fruitful when all of us would play a pivotal role to preserve and conserve forests, water bodies and environment, but will anybody act as per the appeal of minister? The government which seems in a deep slumber has to wake-up and start from the beginning. So the desired results are achieved before it slips out of our hands!
It was earlier during the rein of Kanashika and now after a gape of 2000 years; the KashmirValley which is known world over for varied reasons (like natural, beauity and the militancy) hosts international Conference on Indian Society for Buddhist Studies.
This is the 9th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Buddhist Studies organized by the Department of Sanskrit of Kashmir University (KU) which started today in collaboration with the Indian Society of Buddhist Studies (ISBS), New Delhi.
The inaugural ceremony of the three day conference was performed at the convocation complex of KashmirUniversity.
Speaking on the occasion Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, Prof Punjabi expressed his pleasure to host the international conference. He mentioned that the Kashmir is hosting this conference after a gap 2000 years.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Kashmir hosted the fourth International Buddhist Conference during the rein of Kanashika. Professor Punjabi said that history is not a monolith but a running stream where one thing is linked to the other thing. He added that our most of the Buddhist Architecture remind us of our past. Kashmir has been a seat of learning and the land which up holds tolerance and the very fact that Hein Yaan sect of Buddhism emerged in Kashmir is an example that he said.
Prof Punjabi made a special mention of University TARANA which he said showcases the Kashmir chwqured history. He said that University emblem mentioning Mina Zulmaati Ela Noor and its Hindi version inspires us to continue our march from darkness to light for peace harmony within the country abut also in the subcontinent as well. Prof Punjabi said Kashmir has valuable resources in Sharda and Pali languages which awake scholars attention and Kashmir can play a vital role in establishing a rapport with these scholars. VC was all praise for the Head of Department Sanskrit, Prof. Satyabama Razdan coordinator of the conference for successfully hosting the conference at KU.
Chief Guest on the occasion, Peerzada Muhammad Syeed, Minister for EducationJ&KState while addressing the gathering of students and delegates said that Buddhism has played an important role in Socio-cultural ethos of J&K. He added that the state was committed to promote the language of Sanskrit as it was a part of the state’s socio-cultural ethos.
While delivering the key note address, the Prof. Deepak Kumar Barua, President ISBS deliberated upon the fact that Kashmir University was playing hosts to the conference and that this land, with its atmosphere of religious concord and tolerance, has historically been significant in its contribution to Buddhist studies per se. "the very name Kashmir inspires academicians, scholars, and students as Kashmir has become a celebrated centre of Buddhism attracting many scholars and saints to this serene land from ages" he said.
Chairman of Public Services Commision, Mr. S.L Bhat said, "Buddhism has had an immense impact on Kashmir in more than one way, from Art to architecture; the tradition of Kashmir has had great influence on its various aspects". He also urged the university to extend the scope of the Centre for Central Asian Studies to Tibet, Mongolia and even Afghanistan.
Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Radha B Tripathi was the special guest at the inaugural function. While speaking on the occasion, he said, "the composite culture of Kashmir should be preserved as it is a heritage that cannot be inherited again." He praised the land of Kashmir and the Kashmiri hospitality as being something that he would take back as a cherished memory.
The registrar of the University, Prof. S. Fayyaz, while speaking on the occasion stressed the need to go back to the past to seek guidance and wisdom in matters related to on spiritual nourishment. He also assured the house that the university was working tirelessly towards the progress of horizons of knowledge in such important areas. "Department of Sanskrit, Institute of Kashmir Studies, and the Centre for Central Asian studies are already doing much work on Buddhism and they need to work in Co-ordination in this arca he said.
In her welcome address, the Head of Department Sanskrit, Prof. Satyabama Razdan welcomed the guests and thanked the ISBS for collaborating with the University to hold the historic conference in the University of Kashmir. Prof. B. N Labh, Secretary ISBS, Prof. S P Sharma, President, ISBS and HOD Dept. of Sanskrit Aligarh Muslim University also spoke on the occasion.
The tri-lingual Annual Research Journal "Padma Parag" was released on the occasion by the Chief Guest. Prof. Punjabi released the book ‘Ocean of Buddhist Wisdom’ while another book, ‘A critical Appraisal of Truth: Buddhism and Pragmatism’ was released by the Guest of Honor. Baudh Prajna: Sindu Khand 4 was released by the special guest on the occasion.The vote of thanks was presented by Mohd. Mehraj Ahmed, Associate Professor, Department of Sanskrit, University of Kashmir.The conference will continue for the next two days wherein tens of delegates will deliberate on the various aspects of Buddhist studies brought their research presentations.
