SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday called for integrating nature-based solutions into development planning to tackle climate change challenges in the Himalayan region.
Addressing a conference on “Strengthening Climate Resilience and Livelihoods in the Himalayan Region through Nature-based Solutions” at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Sinha said climate change was posing a serious threat to the region, with frequent flash floods, cloudbursts and other natural disasters damaging infrastructure and disrupting essential services.
He said there was no conflict between development and conservation, asserting that “nature itself is infrastructure”.
“Constructing a watershed is also an effective flood-control system. A wetland is nature’s vast reservoir as it absorbs excess water during monsoon and supports surrounding areas during dry months. A dense forested mountain slope protects villages from landslides,” Sinha said.
He urged scientists, engineers and policymakers to bring nature-based solutions into the mainstream of development planning and integrate them into project budgeting, appraisal and monitoring.
Highlighting the role of technology, the LG called for the use of remote sensing, geospatial mapping and artificial intelligence to monitor glacier retreat, spring flow, soil health and forest cover. He also stressed the need to involve farmers, shepherds, orchard owners and tribal communities in conservation efforts.
Sinha said universities should develop nature-based solutions as a multidisciplinary subject covering ecology, hydrology, engineering, economics, disaster management and traditional knowledge.
Recalling the Green Jammu Kashmir Drive launched in 2020, he said sustainable practices had helped increase forest cover in the region and emphasised the need to protect watersheds, wetlands and rivers.
“By placing nature at the centre of development, integrating modern technology with traditional wisdom, and involving communities as equal partners, the Himalayan region can build resilience against climate change,” he said.
During the event, Sinha inaugurated the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Block at the IUST main campus, the university’s Larmoo Campus and the Law School.
He also released a special edition of IUST’s monthly magazine Times Echo on the 100-Day Anti-Drug Campaign and a policy brief on the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan prepared by experts.
The event was attended by Acting Chief Justice of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Justice Sanjeev Kumar, IUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Shakil A Romshoo, Registrar Prof Shamim Ahmad Shah, conference convener Prof Javed Hussain Mir, scientists, experts, officials, faculty members and students.
