This story is from November 26, 2022

IUCN honours forest min Mungantiwar

IUCN honours forest min Mungantiwar
Chandrapur: Globally acclaimed conservationist organisation, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), felicitated forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar for his outstanding leadership, tireless efforts and valuable role in accelerating forest landscape restoration in Maharashtra under India’s Bonn challenge commitment.
Mungantiwar during his earlier tenure as forest minister had led the campaign of planting 50 crore trees in the state between 2017 and 2019 with the help of government agencies and NGOs.
Eventually, 54.52 crore trees were planted. Similarly, his initiatives through various means helped in restoration of forest landscape in an area of 18.33 lakh hectares in the state. Maharashtra is presently in third position in the country in restoration of forest landscape and further evaluation is likely to raise the position of the state in the tally. Taking cognizance of Mungantiwar’s efforts in conservation of nature, IUCN chief Archana Chatterjee felicitated him with a certificate of appreciation, a shawl and memento during the three-day workshop ‘Strengthening capacities on forest landscape restoration’ organised under the joint aegis of the state forest department and IUCN.
CCF (CAMPA), Shailesh Tembhurne read the citation mentioned in the certificate of appreciation. It is the first instance when a forest minister of a state has been honoured for his work by the internationally acclaimed organisation working for conservation of nature. Replying to the felicitation, Mungantiwar said, “The last 100 years have seen intense climate change. The country’s progress is measured in terms of its GDP. But now the United Nations has started measuring the ‘Happiness Index’ of every country. This Index can be raised only with the help of the environment.” He claimed that restoration of land is a big challenge. While the human race is suffering from the cancer of development and forests are paying the price. He emphasized on educating people about environmental crises, raising the number of people planting trees, promoting people for conservation of forest and environment and increasing the participation of people in forest movement.
Mungantiwar also promised that the state forest department will leave no stone unturned for achieving an additional 50% more (i.e. 150%) target of forest landscape restoration given to Maharashtra.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA