Keekli Reporter, 12th August, 2015, Shimla
The need of the hour is to conserve our forests, help preserve the natural beauty of our environment as well as influence people to adopt a more conservative approach to protect the biodiversity. A one day consultation seminar on ecology was held in St Thomas School as prominent speakers were invited to converse on various topics concerning the environment, Dr Vaneet Jishtu, Scientist at Himalayan Forest Research Institute; Archana Phull, Bureau Chief at Daily Post; and a representative from NGO Himdhara. School Principal Vidhupriya Chakarvarty warmly greeted the elite panel as well as teachers and students present from various schools across Shimla City. She highlighted the need to educate students and children as they were the future of our country and by making them aware of the growing problems, a much wider impact could be made. She further added that the seminar was part of the ‘Three Day Youth Fest’, from 12th to 14th August under which different activities were being organized for students.
Dr Jishtu spoke about the various flora and fauna in the Himalayan forests, their benefits and the impact of them now being extinct. He further emphasized that if we look at Shimla city and the growing population’s impact, many floral species are now nearing extinction. Archana spoke about the role of media and its importance to create awareness among people about the growing ecological problems, while the representative from Himdhara spoke about how the forest and rivers were being polluted due to excessive human interference. Another interesting concept was about using innovative tandoors by Stephan, who emphasized that it would help in lessening the burden on the forests from further depleting the natural resources.
Students from various schools — Bishop Cottons; Chapslee; Chinmaya Vidyala, Dayanand; KVM School; Auckland House and DAV New Shimla — raised quite a few interesting questions to the panel clearing their doubts as well as giving very valuable suggestions too, if not totally eradicate, but to help resolve certain issues concerning the environment.
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