Jharkhand's Environmental Initiative pledges for ‘Restoring Our Land, Securing Our Future’

Ranchi.  The Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change (Government of Jharkhand), Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board and Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) jointly organised a conference in Ranchi that marked the celebration of World Environment Day-2024. The event was also the culmination of a 10-day long public outreach campaign that began on 26 May in various parts of the state. As per the theme of this environment day - ‘Our Land, Our Future, We are #Generation Restoration’, the campaign has nudged people to take action on accelerating land restoration, drought resilience, and halting desertification. Considering Jharkhand's status as one of the climate-vulnerable regions, grappling with recurrent drought, rapid rate of land desertification and degradation, this year's World Environment Day theme holds particular significance.

Addressing the gathering, Smt. Vandana Dadel, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Jharkhand said, ‘The state government is committed to taking formidable steps for environmental conservation and promoting sustainability to attain inclusive development. As Jharkhand is known as the land of forests, our efforts should make the state a model of environmental sustainability. There is a need to work on a state-level action plan to address pressing environmental concerns. We must harness traditional knowledge and the heritage of the indigenous communities in our eco-restoration, drought-proofing mechanisms and climate adaptation & mitigation measures to benefit all.’

Elaborating on the overall approach of the campaign, Dr Sanjay Srivastava, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HOFF), Jharkhand said, ‘World Environment Day serves as a powerful reminder that every individual action contributes to a greater whole. Our collective efforts in preserving land, forests, and water are vital to building a sustainable future for all species and ecosystems. By involving local communities, leveraging scientific insights and raising public consciousness, we can drive impactful restoration efforts and achieve lasting results in environmental conservation.’

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shashikar Samanta, IFS, Chairman, Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board said, ‘The health of our planet lies in our hands, and every choice we make has an impact. By embracing scientific solutions and collective support, we can mitigate the effects of climate change, minimise carbon footprint in the atmosphere and secure a safer future for all.’

Shri Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED told ‘Climate change is a critical challenge that demands collective responsibility and convergence of efforts. By embracing sustainable practices, respecting traditional ecological knowledge, and fostering a deep connection with nature, we can create a vibrant, regenerative future for all life on Earth.’

During the event, noted environmentalist Padma Shri Shyam Sundar Paliwal from Rajasthan shared his experience of initiating a campaign of planting 111 saplings to celebrate the birth of every new-born girl in 2006, which resulted in a mass movement and changing the topography of Piplantri village (Rajsamand district) from an ecologically degraded and mining region into a green and sustainable village. He emphasised the role of community, bonding with nature through ritual practices and collective effort can bring positive results in society.

Shri Sidharth Tripathi, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests-Research, Govt. of Jharkhand also spoke on the occasion and stressed the need for community-led bottom-up approaches to eco-restoration and drought-proofing structures in addressing pressing environmental concerns.

During the event representatives of joint forest management committees, forest protection committees, and community workers particularly Chinta Devi, Gangadhar Mahto, Abhishek Anand, Shambu Badaik, Badri Mahto and Ambika Mhato were felicitated and winners of various creative activities in schools, colleges and public places were awarded for putting efforts and support for the conservation of the environment. 

The campaign activities were conducted across government departments, urban local bodies, parks, and public spaces, widely endorsed by notable civil society organisations, educational institutions, women & youth groups and citizens across the state.