Bihar Seminar Addresses Environmental Protection and Climate Change

Patna: A seminar chaired by Dr. Prem Kumar, the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Bihar, was convened on Tuesday, bringing together environmentalists and forest officers from all districts via video conferencing. The session focused on the ongoing efforts and new suggestions for environmental conservation in the state.

Participants, including school teachers, college professors, wildlife enthusiasts, and bird protectors, discussed various departmental schemes aimed at environmental protection, which are benefiting stakeholders. They also shared innovative conservation efforts and proposed ideas to enhance environmental protection. Key topics included tree plantation, species-specific planting based on district soil and climate, green eco-tourism, green credit, carbon footprint reduction, banning single-use plastics, wetland biodiversity, bird and wildlife conservation, sanctuary management, illegal mining, hunting, river conservation, and pollution control.

Dr. Prem Kumar welcomed and thanked all participants, emphasizing the need for public cooperation in environmental conservation. He highlighted the significant progress in the state’s green cover, which has increased from just over 1% at the time of the state’s division to 15% at present, with a target of 17% by 2028. The nationwide tree plantation initiative, ‘One Tree Mother,’ was also mentioned as a crucial effort to combat climate change.

The Minister detailed the multifaceted benefits of trees, such as oxygen production, carbon dioxide absorption, temperature regulation, soil erosion prevention, and contributions to rainfall. He stressed the importance of planting banyan, peepal, and neem trees, known for their longevity and high oxygen output. He also outlined the Forest Department’s ongoing tree planting initiatives across districts and the use of seed balls to increase greenery on the hills of Gaya district.

The seminar concluded with a commitment to organize further meetings on environmental topics, gather suggestions from stakeholders, and develop actionable plans to ensure the safety of the environment and its components.

Key officials in attendance included N. Jawahar Babu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Abhay Kumar, Additional Secretary, and Surendra Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Director of Hariyali Mission, alongside S. Kumarasamy, Conservator of Forests-cum-Additional Director of Hariyali Mission, and the Forest Division Officer from Jamui.