SRINAGAR: Around 30,000 Chinar trees across Jammu and Kashmir have been geo-tagged and incorporated into a digital database, while QR-enabled metal plates have been installed on 13,500 prominent Chinar, Peepal and Bargad trees across the Union Territory.
Of the QR-enabled plates installed so far, 10,000 have been fixed on prominent Chinar trees in Kashmir, while 3,500 have been installed on Peepal and Bargad trees in Jammu.
The progress was reviewed during a meeting of the Wildlife Protection Department and J&K Forest Research Institute (JKFRI) chaired by Forests, Ecology and Environment Minister Altaf Ahmad Wani at the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF/HoFF) in Jammu.
Officials informed the Minister that geo-tagging of around 30,000 Chinar trees had been completed and a digital database created to document the trees.
The second phase of the exercise will cover the remaining Chinar, Bargad and Peepal trees across Jammu and Kashmir.
Appreciating the initiative, Wani stressed the need to protect the region’s natural heritage, saying its preservation was a collective responsibility of the government and the people.
The Minister also directed officials to involve the concerned MLA in development works undertaken in each district, saying elected representatives understood local ground realities and their participation would help ensure transparency and better execution.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Sheetal Nanda; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, J&K, Sarvesh Rai; Chairman, PCC, Vasu Yadav; Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, and Director, JKFRI, Dr Suneesh Buxy; Regional Wildlife Wardens, Divisional Forest Officers and other senior officers.
