The Governor Baby Rani Maurya said that forest guards had very important role in ensuring forest and wildlife conservation. Forest guards should work fearlessly and without any pressure or allurement. The Governor expressed these views while participating in the wildlife week programme organised by Forest Department at Raj Bhawan on Thursday.

Maurya released the quarterly newsletter of forest department, a brochure of rare birds and a poster of animals of rare species designed by the state biodiversity board. A short movie based on the subject of bird watching was also screened during the programme. An MIS and mobile phone application under “Secure Himalaya Project” was also launched by the governor. 

Addressing the gathering, Maurya said that people of Uttarakhand have been connected with forests and wildlife culturally and traditionally. Uttarakhand State is land of Gaura Devi who set a great example of environment conservation through Chipko movement.  The Governor further said that human-animal conflict is increasing due to growing population and encroachment by human beings in forest areas.  People have to pay attention to the plantation, river rejuvenation and wildlife conservation.  Children should plant a tree on their birthday and their parent’s birthdays, she added.

Principal secretary Anand Bardhan said that local communities and common people should be involved in wildlife conservation.

Principal chief conservator of forests, Jai Raj said that people are being involved in wildlife conservation activities. Forest department is working on the rejuvenation of springs in the State. Nature camps are being held for the school children. City forest is also being developed at Jhajhra in Dehradun, he added.

The governor’s secretary Ramesh Kumar Sudhanshu said that conservation of wildlife has been part of cultural heritage.

Earth was considered mother in Atharva Veda. People should respect and take care of nature and environment like mother, he said.