Training on Eco literacy at UHF Nauni
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The Department of Environmental Science, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry(UHF), Nauni in collaboration with NCSTC Division of Department of Science and Technology, GOI organized a five-day training on ‘Eco literacy for building the resilience of mountain ecoscapes’. The training was organized to develop eco-risk managers and to enhance the capacity of such members who are already helping society to create awareness on the significance of ecosystem services receiving free from nature.
Twenty progressive farmers including rural youths from different districts of Himachal Pradesh were trained as eco risk managers to further educate the society to maintain a healthy ecosystem. In this training, numerous escalating environmental challenges including factors of ecosystem degradation, depletion of natural resources, climate change etc, and methods of its restoration were discussed.
Coordinator-cum-head of the department Professor SK Bhardwaj pointed out that the present state of the ecosystem demands the creation of eco-literacy to understand the interconnected natural systems that allow life to thrive on earth. He advocated that at a basic level all forms of life including humans need food, water, space and conditions that support dynamic equilibrium to survive on this planet. Dr. Bhardwaj added that all need to learn how nature supports life and how our habits are disturbing nature and creating problems for our survival.
He informed that the training aims to build the capacity of the mountain community to create knowledge of interdependent relationships in the ecosystems so that a sustainable lifestyle could be woven into the fabric of everyday life and everyone can become an effective member of a sustainable society. Dr. Anand Sharma, retired Additional Director RMC, IMD New Delhi was the Chief Guest in the closing ceremony of the camp and he emphasized the need of enhancing positive energy by following practices in harmony with nature in day-to-day life. He also advocated the need for the conservation of natural resources.
During the training, the participants were educated on various factors of ecosystem degradation and their management by following natural principles. They were trained on various natural processes like pollination and its role in food security, water and air purification processes in nature, converting waste to wealth and ecosystem restoration. A field visit to the Directorate of Mushroom Research Solan and KVK Kandaghat was also conducted and participants were also exposed to Progressive Agri Leadership Summit 2021. Dr. Tanvi Kapoor, Senior Programme Coordinator of the project said that in future programmes the participants will be exposed to real-time situations to sensitize them regarding our footprints on the ecosystem. Dr. MK Brahmi, Co-PI of the project presented a vote of thanks to the participants and also pointed out that in the future efforts will be made to organize such training for college students and media professionals so that eco-literacy can be created in the mountain community.
