7th Himalaya Day at Nayar River


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The ‘Himalaya Day’ is celebrated on 9th September since 2010 to create awareness to save the Himalayan range as it provides life line for millions of people living in the mountains and in the northern plains of India. The Wildlife Institute of India celebrates this day each year by organizing training workshops, talks and seminars. This year, the theme for ‘Himalaya Day’ Celebration is ‘Ecological Services of Rivers’.  Therefore, WII celebrated the 7th Himalaya Day by organizing a training-cum-conservation Awareness Workshop on ‘Ecological Services of the Himalayan Rivers’ at the bank of River Nayar in Pauri District, which is one of the most important rivers for Golden Mahseer conservation in Uttarakhand. This workshop was organized under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem project funded by Department of Science and Technology. A total of 70 participants comprising of school students, forest officials, staff from Uttarakhand Forest Department and representatives of the fishermen community of the area have participated in this workshop that was organised at Government Inter College at Bilket, Pauri. The workshop was inaugurated with messages to conserve the Himalaya and its biodiversity by Dr. S. Sathyakumar (WII), Mr. H. Kestwal (Inter College, Bilkhet), Mr. Gireesh Kumar Rustgoi (CF) and Mr. Ramesh Chander (DFO).  Dr. Anoop Dobrial, Head, Department of Zoology, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Pauri campus was the chief guest for the workshop and he has delivered a talk on ‘Ecological Services of Himalayan Rivers’. A hands-on training was given by Dr. K. Sivakumar and Dr. J. A. Johnson, on the river bank of Nayar. All the participants were then divided into groups and provided hand-on training on river habitat quality assessment and restoration techniques. Harmful effects of destructive fishing and dredging were also explained along with various scientific techniques. Prizes were distributed for the bright students based on a quiz. The closing remarks were given by Dr. V. P. Uniyal, Scientist, WII on the need to organize similar workshops/trainings for the youth in future.  Dr. Vineet Dubey and Ms. Aashna Sharma concluded the workshop with vote of thanks to all.