World Environment Day celebrated in Rakaposhi Valley, District Nagar
Nagar: World Environment Day commemorated in Rakaposhi Valley by the Nature Clubs of Shah Wali Model Academy and Naunihal Public Schools with the financial and technical support from Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) and Rakaposhi Local Support Organization (RLSO) on June 05, 2016. Other collaborators included the Parks and Wildlife Department, GB and District Administration, Nagar.
Speech contest among schoolchildren on the theme of the day i.e. “ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THE ILLIGAL WILDLIFE TRADE” was the major event of the day. Mr. Muhammad Abbas president PML (N) Nagar graced the occasion as chief guest while Mr. Yawar Abbas Principle Naunihal Public School Minapin Nagar preside over the event. The event was attended by more than 350 participants coming various walks of life. Souvenirs, gifts and certificates were awarded to the winners and all Nature Club members.
It is pertinent to note here that the Snow Leopard Foundation has been working in the valley for the conservation of snow leopard and other wildlife through research, conservation and education programs in collaboration with the RLSO and Parks Wildlife Department for the last couple of years.
Have the participants also been made aware of the hazards looming above them? Massive cracks, far more extensive than Attabad could be destroying their homes, livlihood or even their lives?
Wrong agricultural practices which involved cutting wood, shrubs and removal of vegetative cover to make way for potatoes, are now endangering their lives. In Ghulmit/Nagar above the school vast plateau one was told, covered with Seabuckthorn, was completely denuded to make way for potatoes, to irrigate it glacier water was diverted.
China exports 120 products from Seabuckthorn alone, while GB imports chemical fertilizer and pesticides from down south. By removal,of vegetative cover, the habitate of wildlife too is destroyed. Has the time not come to focus on the priorities?