ITANAGAR, Feb 11: As part of its ongoing pilot project ‘Fostering Climate-Smart Communities in the Indian Himalayan Region’, the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, North East Regional Centre (GBPNIHE-NERC), a leading research institute, conducted an awareness programme on ‘Deforestation and Climate Change Adaptation: Ensuring Sustainability in the Himalayas’ at the premises of Vivekananda Central School (VCS), Itanagar.
The programme, which witnessed enthusiastic participation of 150 attendees, including students and faculty members, aimed to educate them on the causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies related to climate change, with a particular focus on deforestation.
Tridipa Biswas, Scientist-C at GBPNIHE-NERC, who coordinated the programme, delivered an insightful lecture on the environmental consequences of deforestation. She emphasized the importance of conserving forests and encouraged students to become ambassadors of environmental awareness in their communities.
N Suresh Babu, chairman of Vivekananda Central School, urged students to adopt eco-friendly habits such as tree plantation to contribute to environmental conservation.
Similarly, Raj Mohan, Principal of the school, stressed the urgency of taking immediate action against climate change.
Subhrakanti Sahu, Junior Project Fellow at GBPNIHE-NERC, pitched for afforestation as a fundamental strategy for mitigating climate change impacts.
The initiative received an overwhelmingly positive response, inspiring students to take proactive steps toward environmental conservation. Such initiatives play a crucial role in equipping the younger generation with knowledge to combat climate change and protect the Himalayan ecosystem.