Srinagar, Aug 3 (IANS) J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday called for nature-based solutions to build climate resilience in the Himalayas.
L-G Sinha attended the Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST) conference on Strengthening Climate Resilience and Livelihoods in the Himalayan Region through Nature-based Solutions.
He also inaugurated the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Block at the main campus, IUST’s Larmoo Campus and the Law School. The Lieutenant Governor congratulated IUST for its initiatives and lauded the University’s policy brief on the Drug-Free Jammu Kashmir campaign.
Highlighting the alarming pace of climate change in the Himalayan region, he noted that between January and August last year, the Himalayas witnessed a natural disaster almost every day. In Jammu and Kashmir alone, flash floods and cloudbursts damaged public infrastructure, disrupting roads, water supply schemes and power feeders.
Sinha observed that there is no dichotomy between development and conservation, stressing that nature itself is infrastructure. He explained that watersheds act as flood-control systems, wetlands serve as reservoirs, and dense forests protect mountain slopes from collapsing.
“When we destroy these natural systems, we are playing with the future. But when we conserve and restore them, we are investing in a bright future,” he said.
He urged scientists and domain experts to bring Nature-based Solutions into the centre of development planning.
He urged universities to elevate Nature-based Solutions into a multidisciplinary subject spanning ecology, hydrology, engineering, economics, disaster management and traditional knowledge.
Recalling the Green Jammu Kashmir Drive launched in 2020, which raised forest cover to nearly 55 per cent, the Lieutenant Governor reiterated the importance of sustainable living.
He envisioned a Himalaya where watersheds are healthier, wetlands thrive, and rivers flow naturally, sustaining biodiversity and culture.
“By placing nature at the centre of development, integrating modern technology with traditional wisdom and involving communities as equal partners, the Himalayan region can build resilience against climate change. We must remember that the Himalayas are not merely a geographical entity but a living heritage that demands foresight, patience and responsibility,” he said.
–IANS
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