Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today stressed the need for creating public awareness to protect environment and irrational use of precious natural resources.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day-long conference on Himalayan Environment Issues and Challenges organised by the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies (IIHS), Himachal Pradesh University and Mountain Forum Himalayan, here today.

The Chief Minister said rapid growth in population and its dependence on forest had resulted into deforestation and soil erosion, endangering environment and destabilising eco-system. He said the state government had launched different afforestation schemes, including ‘Pipal-Bargad’ and rejuvenation of deodar trees.

He said public participation was a must to ensure success of forestry programme and their cooperation must be sought in increasing forest cover. He said continuous loss of biodiversity and destruction of forests was a cause of concern and remedial measures be taken to protect the fragile Himalayan ecology.

Dhumal said combating climate change and global warming was not only an ecological necessity but also an opportunity for sustainable development. “People must be encouraged to adopt age old traditions so as to lead the community on a path of ecologically sustainable development,” he said.

The CM said speedy melting of glaciers and change in climate had posed threat to the Himalayan region. He said the government had prepared a Rs 372 crore ambitious project to promote diversification of crops with special focus on organic farming and water harvesting.

Delivering the keynote address, eminent environmentalist Dr Vandana Shiva said Himachal must take lessons from Uttarakhand in promoting organic farming. “The Navdanaya movement in Uttarakhand has shown way to farmers in switching over to organic farming which can be replicated in Himachal,” she said.

Dr Shiva said her organisation had fought for protection of over 11,000 plant species against piracy under the Intellectual Property Rights Act. She stressed for protecting indigenous seed varieties, which could be used by villagers in undertaking organic farming.