Serena Hotels and Gilgit-Baltistan Forestry Department celebrate World Forest Day
Our Correspondent
Gilgit, March 21: Serena Hotel’s Gilgit-Baltistan Collection in collaboration with Forests Department Gilgit-Baltistan celebrated “World Forestry Day” on, 21st March 2013, reinforcing its commitment to operate its Hotels & Heritage properties as a Responsible Tourism business and with its dedication, bring a positive change within the Tourism Industry in Pakistan.
While taking initiatives to implementing many of its Responsible Tourism Policies, Environmental Responsibilities, support to Local Communities, Tree Plantation, awareness and encouragement to guests for offsetting carbon emissions during travel to Gilgit-Baltistan; today commemorates the contribution and value of forests and forestry to the community and care for “Our Forest Heritage.”
World Forestry Day is celebrated all over the globe to promote the value, forests provide us, giving awareness of the protection, production and recreation it gives us. The concept of a World Forestry Day originated at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture in 1971. Later that year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization supported this idea and agreed that it should be observed every year around the world. March 21. This was done with objective that the event would contribute a great deal in creating public awareness about the importance of forests.
In Pakistan forest resources are limited, covering only 4.8 percent of total land area, which is far below the optimal standard of 25%, forest cover for a country. Most of the natural forest resources of Pakistan are concentrated in the mountainous regions of the north covering Himalaya, Hindukush and Karakoram ranges, where more than 60% of the countries natural forest resources are found. Alpine forests and pastures are situated above the tree line of 4000 meters and these are found mostly in the northern districts of Gilgit, Diamer, Chitral and Skardu. This greater variety of climatic conditions of Pakistan is a natural gift and is greatly enriching its biodiversity of flora and fauna
The area of forests is decreasing as the people are converting them into agricultural lands or using them for economic source. Reduction in forest is causing for the global warming. This is becoming a great threat for the human beings and flora and fauna depending on these forests.
This year all four of Serena hotels in Gilgit-Baltistan; Gilgit Serena Hotel, Hunza Baltit Inn, Shigar Fort Residence and Khaplu Palace & Residence with support of Gilgit-Baltistan Forestry Department held tree plantation events in their respective regions with the overriding theme of promoting a cleaner environment and for all communities to aim to promotes awareness of the value of forests.
560 people participated in World Forestry Day by the Students & Teachers of Mehnaz Fatima Montsori Gilgit, Hasigawa Memorial Public School Hunza, Abruzi Public School Shigar and Army Public School Khaplu, Administrative Officer Hunza and our four of Serena Hotel’s Managers along with Green Team members and planted 1,000 plants.
To begin the education process Serena Hotels has not only engaged stakeholders of the tourism industry and local dignitaries but has all engaged school children in World Forestry Day. Debating on Social, Communal, Environmental and Economic benefits of Trees Most trees and shrubs in villages or communities are planted to provide beauty or shade.
Moving forward from World Forestry Day Serena Hotel’s Gilgit-Baltistan Collection encourages everyone to join them on their mission to ensure communities of Pakistan become to offset their carbon emissions created from their travel to Pakistan.
