Monday, Jul 20, 2026 22:00 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Jul 19, 2026 16:23 [IST]
SILIGURI,: Emphasising that Aranya Saptaha is not just about planting trees but
also about protecting wildlife and creating environmental awareness among the
public, the Kurseong Forest Division organised a special programme at the
Dowhill Forest School on Saturday.
The
event witnessed the participation of Forest officials, school students,
teachers and members of the local community, who joined hands to promote the
message of environmental conservation.
Addressing
the gathering, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Devesh Pandey highlighted the
achievements and responsibilities of the Forest Department. He spoke about the
dedication of Forest personnel in areas such as wildlife conservation, public
awareness campaigns, Joint Forest Management, wildlife rescue operations, human-elephant
conflict mitigation, plantation drives, eco-tourism development and other
conservation initiatives.
He
stressed that protecting forests and wildlife requires active participation
from every section of society.
The
programme was attended by Tanmoy Roy, ACJM Kurseong; Priya Yadav, SDO Kurseong;
Sammed Patil, DFO Darjeeling; Arunangsu Panda, DFO Kurseong Soil Conservation
Division; Noman, SDLLRO Kurseong; Prof. M.K. Singh of IIFM Kurseong; and the
Headmistress of Dowhill Girls' School, among other dignitaries.
As
part of the celebration, a cultural programme, environmental quiz competition
for students, award distribution ceremony and a plantation drive were
organised. The dignitaries and students planted saplings around the Dowhill
Forest School campus, reaffirming their commitment to preserving forests and
biodiversity.
The
event concluded with a collective pledge to work towards a greener environment
while ensuring the protection of wildlife through greater awareness, community
participation and sustainable conservation efforts.
