One day national workshop organised to celebrate “International
Mountain Day” at Bhaderwah Campus
Bhaderwah, December 11: Institute of Mountain Environment, Bhaderwah
campus today organised one day national workshop to celebrate
International Mountain Day -2018 at IME auditorium here today.
The one day national workshop was organised by Institute of Mountain
Environment, Bhaderwah campus in collaboration with PG department of
Environemntal Sceinces, University of Jammu. 
This year this year
“Mountain Matters” is the theme chosen for the years 2018
International Mountain Day which is being celebrated across the globe.
Sh. Chewang Norphel an engineer by profession and widely known as Ice
man of India was the Chief Guest while Sh. R.S Jasrotia Retd. CCF as
guest of honour and Dr CM Seth, retired. Chairman Pollution Control
Board and Chief Wildlife Warden was special guest on this occasion.
In his formal address , Prof. Anil K Raina Rector Bhaderwah Campus
while welcoming all the dignitaries who reached Bhaderwah despite the
harsh weather condition. He said this year “Mountain Matters” is the
theme chosen for the years 2018 International Mountain Day which is
being celebrated across the globe.
Prof. Raina said that almost one billion people live in mountain
areas, and over half the human population depends on mountains for
water, food and clean energy. “Yet mountains are under threat from
climate change, land degradation, over exploitation and natural
disasters, with potentially far-reaching and devastating consequences,
both for mountain communities and the rest of the world.”
Rector Bhaderwah Campus informed the august gathering that Mountains
cover around 22 percent of the earth’s land surface, host 25 percent
of terrestrial biodiversity and 28 percent of earth’s forests,
mountains provide 60-80 percent of the world’s freshwater – without
which sustainable development that aims to eliminate poverty and
hunger would not be possible, of the 20 most important food crops
originate in mountains (potatoes, maize, barley, sorghum, apples,
tomatoes and attract 15-20 percent of global tourism
Key note address was presented by Sh. Chewang Norphel , Sh. R.S
Jasrotia, and Dr CM Seth. In their keynote address the dignitaries
laid emphasis to protest the mountains from the challenges they are
facing. “Mountains are early indicators of climate change and as
global climate continues to warm, mountain people , some of the
world’s hungriest and poorest, face even greater struggles to
survive. The rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are
melting at unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplies
downstream for millions of people. Mountain communities, however, have
a wealth of knowledge and strategies accumulated over generations, on
how to adapt to climate variability,” they added
Dr Neeraj Sharma Head Institute of Mountain Environment (IME)
Bhaderwah Campus while presenting the report of the event said that
Institute of Mountain Environment Bhaderwah Campus was established in
the year 2011 comprise of three faculties, faculty of life sciences,
faculty of earth sciences and faculty of economics. The institute aims
to conserve high priority mountain eco-systems, increase
environmentally and culturally sustainable livelihoods for mountain
communities, promote support for mountain cultures and issues
through advocacy, research and outreach.
Dr Neeraj Sharma said that organising this national level event in
this hilly region is to aware the people of Chinab belt about the
importance of mountains and measures takes to save these treasures
“Without these mountains we can’t think of survival as mountains
matters for water, disaster risk reduction, tourism, , food, survival
of our Kashmir valley , for Jammu and Kashmir and whole Himalayan
region,”he added
To aware the students about the importance of mountains, a
debate/painting competition was organised on the eve of “International
Mountain Day-2018”, by the Institute of Mountain Environment (IME) in
which more than 40 students from various government and private
schools participated. In poster/painting Momina Malik, Tazium Fatima
and Laiba Rehmat were declared first, second and third in
poster/painting while as Mr Fahad Irshad, Mohd. Rizwan and Sania Malik
were declared first, second and third in Symposium competition. On the
occasion all the participating students were given certificates.
In order to better understand the changing scenarios in terms of
ecology, economy, culture with special reference to Bhaderwah and
Chenab region, a panel discussion was organised with the pro-active
participation of golden agers, the senior citizens who have spent
their life time in the mountains, valleys and streams of Bhaderwah.
The deliberations resulted in the formulation of a blue print for the
effective management and conservation of nature and natural resources
across the mountains of north western Himalaya.
Prominent among present on the occasion were DFO Bhaderwah Khalid
Metha , Dr Jatinder Manhas, Dr Kuljeet Singh, Dr Rakesh Sharma, Miss
Bubloo Sharma , Dr Sunil Bhardwaj , Dr Mohd. Avias, faculty members
students, staff of the Bhaderwah Campus and students and staff of
various Colleges and Schools . Vote of thanks was presented by Mr.
Chhering Tandup Assistant Professor Department of Geography Bhaderwah
Campus
