Srinagar, June 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department has achieved a remarkable score of 92.97% for Dachigam National Park in the Management Effective Evaluation (MEE) exercise organized by the Wildlife Institute (WII) of India under the Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Wildlife Institute (WII) under the Government of India.
Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister, Javed Ahmed Rana has praised the officials of the Wildlife Department for this outstanding achievement in the conservation of preserved areas in ecological sensitive Jammu and Kashmir, referred to as a benchmark that is followed in other protected areas in J&K.
This achievement shows dedication to exceptional management skills and ecological delicate Jammu -Kashmir to preserve protected areas, he said.
Dachigam National Park has emerged as the highest scoring individual protected area among the 438 protected areas assessed across the country, which highlights biodiversity protection, ecological management, efficiency of employees and its excellence in community engagement.
The Park scored a MEE score of 92.97%, demonstrating its commitment to conservation and effective management practices.
The minister emphasized that protected areas are important components of global conservation efforts, which are necessary to preserve biodiversity and maintain ecological balance.
He highlighted the importance of community awareness, anti-poaching efforts and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthen eco-tourism, biodiversity monitoring and residence of residence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rana thanked the Ministry of Environment and Forests for conducting this ambitious exercise and accepted his invaluable technical guidance and financial assistance.
He urged the authorities to continue their commitment and dedication to the protection of natural resources and ensure the existence of India’s diverse flora and fauna for the coming generations.
The achievement of Dachigam National Park sets an example for other protected areas in Jammu and Kashmir, which shows the ability of effective protection and management practices in Jammu and Kashmir.
The minister highlighted the importance of cooperative efforts in protecting the natural heritage of the region for future generations.
Dachigam National Park includes 141 km and is the only global habitat for Hangul.
The management of the park is recognized for its efforts in conservation, and recommendations have been made to further enhance its effectiveness, including making the Hangul Protection Breeding Center completely functional and promoting eco-tourism.
It appreciated the dedication of the department for commitment and protection of forest officials and underlined the importance of skilled management practices in preserving the rich biodiversity and ecological integrity of the protected areas of J&K.
