One Million Trees for Pir Panjal launched as civil society move for ecological restoration in J&K

By A Representative

A large-scale environmental campaign titled “” was formally launched in Jammu & Kashmir, marking the beginning of an ambitious afforestation and ecological restoration drive across the .

Led by the in collaboration with the and supported by the Jammu & Kashmir Forest Department, the initiative aims to plant one million trees across the ecologically sensitive while fostering community participation in conservation efforts.

The programme was inaugurated by climate justice activist , with participation from civil society representatives, academicians, forest officials, and international delegates, including Director Roshni Bhattarai. Students and scholars from also joined the launch event along with youth groups, women’s collectives and local residents.

The first phase of the campaign began with a plantation drive in the Shukhnag Forest Range in Budgam district, signalling the operational rollout of the initiative. The drive is being implemented jointly by SRDE, NCA, the Tosamaidan Bachav Front, and the Shukhnag Conservation and Development Foundation, with technical and logistical support from the Forest Department.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Rasool said the campaign goes beyond plantation efforts. “This is not merely about planting trees; it is about healing our mountains. The forests of Pir Panjal sustain water systems, , biodiversity, and . Protecting them is essential for securing the future of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said. He added that community participation, particularly of youth, would be central to the initiative’s long-term success.

Organisers highlighted growing ecological concerns in the region, citing unregulated tourism, infrastructure expansion, and unsustainable development practices as major contributors to environmental degradation across the Pir Panjal landscape and the Kashmir Valley. The campaign, they said, seeks to promote sustainable development rooted in ecological balance and community stewardship.

Forest Department officials present at the site provided saplings and technical guidance to ensure scientific plantation practices. The Range Officer of the Sukhnag range commended SRDE’s efforts, noting its continued contribution to research and community-based conservation.

Speaking at the event, SCDF President Molvi Maqbool stressed the ethical and spiritual responsibility of environmental protection, urging community leaders and religious institutions to promote conservation awareness. Prof. Billal Bhat reiterated the organisation’s commitment to sustained ecological campaigns, while Mushtaq Budgam of the expressed support, linking forest conservation to livelihoods and cultural identity.

Peer Sheikh Ghulam Mohideen of the Pir Panjal Conservation Foundation underlined the importance of the initiative for regional water security, while Abiza Maqbool called on young people to take leadership in safeguarding Kashmir’s ecological future.

The event also saw participation from international representatives, including a delegate from Azerbaijan, along with members of the education sector and civil society organisations.

According to organisers, the initiative builds on SRDE’s long-standing work in environmental conservation, including the plantation of over 2.7 lakh trees in the region. The campaign is envisioned as a long-term, scalable model combining scientific approaches with grassroots participation to restore degraded landscapes and enhance climate resilience.

The programme concluded with a joint vote of thanks by organising groups and the Forest Department, which also acknowledged the support of Pir Panjal Divisional Forest Officer Syed Waseem and Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir, Irfan Rasool.

Issuing a broader call to action, organisers urged citizens, youth, educators and community leaders across Jammu & Kashmir to join the movement, emphasising that collective efforts are crucial at a time of rising ecological challenges and increasing climate risks.

Comments

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Beneath the stone: Revisiting the New Jersey mandir controversy

By Rajiv Shah A recent report published in the British media outlet The Guardian , titled “Workers carved the largest modern Hindu temple in the west. Now, some have incurable lung disease,” took me back to my visits to the New Jersey mandir —first in 2022, when it was still under construction, though parts of it were open to visitors, and again in 2024, after its completion.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Ecologist Dr. S. Faizi urges UN intervention to save 35 million Gulf migrants

By A Representative Renowned ecologist and veteran United Nations negotiator Dr. S. Faizi has issued an urgent appeal to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, calling for immediate diplomatic intervention to halt escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf. In a formal letter copied to several UN missions, Faizi warned that the lives and livelihoods of 35 million migrant workers—who comprise the vast majority of the population in many Gulf cities—are facing an unprecedented existential crisis.

Search This Blog