World Environment Day 2021 was celebrated virtually throughout Meghalaya via video conferencing which was attended by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Forest and Environment Minister James P K Sangma, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Hamlet Dohling.
Addressing the virtual gathering, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that all need to accept that climate change is happening and it will affect everyone. He added that the adaptation to climate change is going to be a very critical part for policy makers at the highest level.
"Different forms of adaptation to the environment and the ecosystem, figuring out policies, creating infrastructures and investing to ensure that people adapt to the changing ecosystem are very critical not only for the government but the people as well," he said. Thanking the different stakeholders in the conservation, restoration and preservation process he added that the biggest responsibility in making a difference lies with an individual and urged upon all to take small yet significant steps towards the environment.
The chief minister also pledged and called upon all to bring 500 square kilometers of forest cover in the state in the next few years. He also stressed upon the importance of 3As, namely 'Awareness'- the need to make people aware at the grassroot level, 'Alternative'- the need for society and government to work together to create alternatives and 'Act'- the need to act swiftly to achieve the goals in a time bound manner to make a difference.
Also speaking during the occasion, Forest and Environment Minister James P K Sangma said that the theme of the World Environment Day this year is very apt to Meghalaya. "With forest and nature so embedded in our culture and our livelihood, agriculture and life so closely tied to climate change impacts and forest related sectors, we have to recast our lens on Meghalaya as a forest economy," he said. He added that economic opportunities out of the green and climate action and conservation besides climate finance, climate budgeting, conservation related livelihoods and incentivised green action like eco tourism is what the state needs.
"We, at the forest and environment are already formulating many proposals to create a pathbreaking template of environment leadership," he said. The minister also informed of the various afforestation projects in coal mining affected areas. He also said that the department is looking at restoration and cleaning of two entire stretches of rivers in East Jaintia Hills which are polluted due to unscientific coal mining.
Soil and Water Conservation Minister Hamlet Dohling participating in the celebration said that Meghalaya has a huge biodiversity and called upon all the citizens to come together unitedly in conserving the natural resources and the ecosystem.
Earlier, Chief Secretary M S Rao welcoming the participants said that keeping in mind the theme of the World Environment Day 2021 celebration, 'Ecosystem Restoration' the celebration in the state highlights the ecological concerns of Meghalaya and also the success of some villages in restoring the ecosystem.
The programme also saw the experience sharing from communities across the state in preserving and restoring the ecosystem.
A presentation on Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Livelihood to have a common platform to anchor all that is happening in natural resource management was also given during the occasion.
