Title: Environmental Initiatives of Sikkim 1994-2016
KeyWords: Environmental Initiatives of Sikkim 1994-2016, Environmental Initiatives of Shri Pawan Chamling, latest publication
Published by: Forests, Environment and Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim
Author Name: Pr. Secretary cum PCCF
Printed Year: 2016
Editor: Pr. Secretary cum PCCF
Language: English
Pages: 124
Details:
The book was officially released by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Sikkim Shri Pawan Chamling on 15th of August 2016 at Palzor Stadium, Gangtok on the ocassion of 70th Year Celebration Independence Day.
Message of the Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling (in the book)
Sikkim is a green, biodiversity-rich and environmentally endowed eastern Himalayan State. It falls within one of India’s two biodiversity hotspot regions and is well-known for its enormous number of flora and fauna.The unique natural features of the State have attracted scientists and naturalists through the ages and eminent scientists like Joseph Dalton Hooker have spent considerable amount of time exploring its verdant hills and valleys. Natural elements of the State have been revered and celebrated by different communities and forms a part of their folklore, songs, dance and rituals.
In the last 22 years, the State Government has taken several steps towards conserving the environment as I believe that its preservation is of paramount importance for our future security. We have initiated and put in place
measures such as ban on grazing of cattle and green felling in reserved forest areas, prohibition on manufacture, use and sale of firecrackers, prohibition on use of plastic carry bags and prohibition on burning of agricultural wastes. To complement these conservation steps I personally thought about novel programs for augmenting our green resources such as Ten Minutes to Earth, State Green Mission and Paryavaran Mahotsav, which have become popular in the State and the country as well. Environment education must go hand in hand with these steps and I firmly believe that the student community have a role to play in safeguarding our environment.
Environmental education has been introduced from class VIII in all government schools, along with green awards for schools so that the students inculcate environment-friendly activities in their day to day lives. To honour the religious sentiments of the people, certain peaks, lakes and rocks have been notified as sacred and nature worshipping festivals have been declared as government holidays.
In recognition of all these steps initiated by us, the State has won several accolades such as The Greenest Chief Minister Award, Nirmal Rajya Puraskar, two of our districts have been declared cleanest in the North-East, and finally, recently the Khangchendzonga National Park has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I am pleased that the Forest, Environment & Wildlife Management Department has brought out this book faithfully recording all these achievements of the last 22 years of my governance. I am sure readers will find this book interesting and informative and will appreciate my sincere effort to conserve our natural resources and address climate change mitigation in our small but beautiful State.