National Service Scheme (NSS), Campus Units, University of Jammu, Jammu, Organizes One Day National Webinar on Event of "World Environment Day -2021', on the Theme:  "Ecosystem     Restoration” Topic of the Webinar "Sustainable Development Goals and Wild Edible Food Crop Relatives".

An informative and interactive session was organized by the NSS Campus Units, on 5^th of June, World Environment Day, under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor University of Jammu, Prof Manoj K Dhar, who is also the Chairman, NSS, University of Jammu. The Chief Resource Person on the occasion was Sh. OP Sharma Vidyarthi, IFS RETD. PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS and an ardent environmentalist. He is also the initiator of a Tree talk a wonderful green initiative.

Sh. Om Prakash Sharma Vidyarthi, born in 1960 in the hills of Ramnagar District Udhampur, did his graduation from GGM Science college in 1979 and Post- Graduation in Botany from University of Jammu 1981 before joining Kashmir Administrative Service in 1984.Subsequently he joined Indian Forest Services in 1987, and superannuated as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests on 31st January, 2020.

      He has served in many positions such as Regional Director J&K State Pollution Control Board, Chief Conservator Ecotourism, as Director Ecology Environment and Remote sensing and Director State Forest Research Institute. His specialization domains are Traditional knowledge of ethnic communities, field Taxonomy of plants and animals especially birds, coining of Dogri language scientific expressions for forestry, ecology and environmental terminology, creative writing prose, poetry, short stories, medicinal plant conservation, Biodiversity documentation, bird watching, butterflying and documentation of wild edible plants. He is known for spearheading Biodiversity awareness student friendly interactive programme nicknamed as Tree Talk, it was launched on 19th December, 2010 and held sessions in all districts of J and K including Ladakh and even outside J&K,so far hosted over 1100 Tree Talk interactions ,mostly outdoor ,some online during Covid crisis.

    Presently he is member JK Biodiversity council and Member JK Wildlife Board. He won Sahitya Akademy award for the Dogri Book, 'Trip Trip Chete' त्रिप त्रिप चेते, translated into Hindi as,'बूंद बूंद स्मृतियां'. He has been awarded with many other awards and Prizes for his outstanding contribution towards forestry and environmental education. He may be called as the walking encyclopaedia on Environment.

Prof. Manoj.K.Dhar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, himself a Bio-Technologists, who has preserved a huge variety of Apple, through Germplasm. After qualifying NET-JRF and subsequently earned M. Phil. and Ph. D. degrees in Botany, specializing in Genetics and Cytogenetics. As Chairman, NSS, he suggested that celebration of environment day should not be one day event, but a lifelong one. NSS shall draw a calendar of events for restoration of environment so that to resurrect the degraded environment. SDGs of Removal of poverty and hunger can be achieved if we avoid food wastage, and enhance food production. He emphatically stressed upon the planting of trees, and asked all to pledge not to waste food, and spread awareness regarding the same. He further stressed upon conservation of Parks, Lakes- keep them clean; Greening of Campuses, Homes, Offices; planting of traditional trees, planting indigenous trees.

Sh. OP Sharma Vidyarthi, gave an elaborate insight into the “Sustainable Development Goals and Wild Edible Food Crop Relatives". The participants were all praises for Sh. Vidyarthi ji. He related the Sustainable Development Goals to the Environmental Preservation. There should be need based production-consumption rather than greed based one. He talked about the wisdom of our ancestors in identifying the efficient sources of energy and food, including medicinal plants. He said that COVID 19 is pushing the deadlines of many Developmental Initiatives. In the UN Decade of Eco-System Restoration, all NSS volunteers should interact with local people, take photographs of indigenous plants and consolidate knowledge. He said that our ancestors knew about the potential of environmental sustainability and restoration but we have become too materialistic to realise and remember that. He further gave many examples from the local ecology and vocabulary. He also talked about the indigenous plants, their glossary, folk wisdom, phasing out of plastics, indulgence in organic farming, restoration of water resources, preservation of all strata of environment. He also answered a lot of questions of the participants, a session conducted by Ms. Priya Sharma.

At the outset the Kulgeet of the University and NSS Song were played.  A video pertaining to the work of Sh. Vidyarthi was also played. The participants found it very informative, there was an overwhelming response from them. Prof. Neeru Sharma, Convener, NSS Campus Units, welcomed the Guests and Participants, Dr.Meghna Dhar, NSS PO introduced the Chief Resource Person, and Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Savita Nayyar, NSS PO.  Mr. Vikas Pandita, Senior NSS Volunteer, who is now in TCS, provided the technical support, and NSS Volunteers Mr. Gurdarshan and Mr. Sumit Verma, helped in the organisation of the event. Feedback was also sought from the participants, who were not only from the UT but many other states of India.